We need amino acids to make protein, twenty different kinds to be exact. In fact – corn and beans together provide all ten of the essential amino acids our bodies need. The three plants, corn, beans, and squash complement each other in the garden and on the plate. A Milpa is Complementary In the Garden & On the Plate
Today, let me introduce you to a brain-dead-simple system that doesn’t even need crop rotation. There are lots of systems of plant rotation that try to replicate traditional techniques of building and preserving soil. It’s all part of preserving that connection to the earth that is sadly being lost in our culture. That’s one of the reasons you’ll see my family at the local farmer’s market every week. Planting a garden is a good way to know where your food comes from.
Companion planting and cultivating a mindset of earth stewardship help us prevent that. can happen in a garden just as easily as a big farm field. Backyard compost is one easy way to amp up the nutrition in homegrown food – every home gardener should have one. Without rich dirt we lack important microbes, vitamins, and nutrients in our diet. You may think I’m a little obsessed with dirt here, but it’s literally life giving. The good news? There’s an easy way to grow our own food that’s simple, time-tested, and good for everyone. Lack of cover crops, tilling, pesticides, and reliance on the same crops has led to not so great soil… or food for that matter. Stripped of nutrition, crops grown in these fields aren’t as healthy as their ancestors. The Issue of Soil Depletion (& How a Milpa Can Help)Ī lot of today’s farmland is practically a sandy wasteland. Although it’s a myth that these plants are sisters (botanically speaking), they do thrive in each other’s presence.īut before I go into all that, let’s back up a bit. The Three Sisters Planting Story started with the Iroquois, but many indigenous people retell their own version.Ĭorn, beans, and squash are the three inseparable sisters that support each other.ĭifferent tribes had different ways of laying out their milpa garden, but it included these three plants. Milpa basically means “maize field.” The milpa definition originated hundreds of years ago in native American cultures, beginning in south/central America and moving north. What is the Three Sisters Planting (aka a Milpa)? This method is good for the soil, the planet, and the dinner table! If you’re interested in using traditional wisdom in your gardening practices, read on for this simple-yet-fascinating method. Find out how you can easily incorporate a milpa in your own garden for some surprising benefits!Ī milpa may sound like a fancy coffee drink, but it actually refers to the three sisters garden technique. The milpa (AKA Three Sisters Planting) is a traditional and sustainable gardening method that has three plants: corn, beans and squash, which complement each other both in the garden and on the plate.
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