What's Growing On
In the Husky Garden
Garden Club
In garden club we are using inquiry based learning to understand the differences in planting techniques.
Our Three Sisters Garden and our Companion Garden
Our Three Sisters Garden (west bed): A Native American garden found in many forms depending on the tribe and region. The three sisters are sister corn, sister bean, and sister squash. The 'sisters' depend on each other and help each other. The corn supports the beans, the beans provide nitrogen and the squash provides shade, prevents pests, and eliminates weeds. Nutritionally in combination the corn provides carbohydrates, the beans protein, and the squash vitamins.
There are many variations of planting this garden. In ours:
First, a mound was formed. 4 sister corns were planted to the north, south, east, and west in the mound.
Second, sister bean was planted two inches north, south, east and west of sister corn
Last, sister squash (pumpkin) was planted around the mound, below in the channels.
Our Companion Garden (east bed): We planted a section of corn, a section of beans and a section of pumpkins.
What will we do with the Harvest?
The Companion Garden’s harvest will be given to a local food bank.
- The Three Sisters Garden will be used in a garden club celebration to make a Native American soup.
Making the Garden Your Classroom
Compare and contrast the beds. (See the shared document below)
Observe the garden as a whole. Ex: new additions, weather, organisms
Regularly measure and chart growth
Introduce the Three Sisters Garden using the book, Three Sisters Garden (fiction and a great read. May be borrowed from Francince Erikson)
Study crows. The day after the Three Sisters Garden was planted, crows circled the garden overhead. They are very smart animals. Students vote on crows versus scarecrows. Will scarecrows keep then away or will crows prevail? Then watch Are Scarecrows the Ultimate Problem Solvers? After watching the youtube video, our gardeners changed their minds and now believe crows will get the corn! We shall see.
Read a Native American Tale about the Three Sisters Garden. There are many versions. Some more kid friendly than others.
Have students write their own version of the The Three Sisters Garden tale.
Go outside and read The Littlest Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown (a story about mindset)