This historic polyculture technique leverages the symbiotic relationships between three specific crops planted in the same mound. The tall corn stalks provide a natural trellis for the climbing beans. The beans fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil to feed the heavy-feeding corn. Meanwhile, the broad squash leaves act as a living mulch, shading the ground to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Heard on the job
We're putting a demonstration garden near the visitor center to show how the three sisters yield more calories per acre than a monoculture.