The Three Sisters were squash, beans and corn grown by the Mimbres Indians here in our region. You enter Three Sisters through a seasonal squash tunnel! Other plants other times of the year.
The Three Sisters is a large, completely edible, four-season garden. This is where volunteers receive the benefit of lots of lessons, demonstrations, and hands-on experience on how to grow edible food here in the Southwest.
This is where we share information about indigenous food, medicinal plants and the 3000 year old history of food in the southwest. It turns out squash, beans and corn were a natural example of permaculture...one plant returns nitrogen to the soil, one plant repels pests, one plant attracts pollinators, in a multi-function, mutually beneficial system.
Three Sisters is a working garden. Working gardens have an whimsical, irresistible charm, much like the people who love growing things.
This is also where you will find a chicken coop and a big, long chicken run.
Bee hives will be discreetly placed around the garden to facilitate pollination. We are planning a 360 walk-around Observational Bee Hive. That means you can safely view the bees at work and watch them move around the hive. Bee colonies are a fascinating world unto themselves.
There's lots to see and lots to do. The Three Sisters Garden features raised beds for ease of planting, maintenance and mobility. We have even planned an all-abilities area with chair height raised beds for those in wheelchairs or walkers and their caregivers to enjoy gardening.
Here is the list of everything we plan to grow. And, yes, that's a lot of food...over 5000 lbs a year...depending on what we plant and how intensely we plant! Our Cafe and Demonstration Kitchen will get first pick, but that will barely make a dent. Did you know that 35% of El Paso County residents face food insecurity? We plan to work with our nearby communities to share some fresh edibles. Our local food bank is building a new food distribution center very near us. So lots of opportunities to put our edibles to good use.
...and now for the last garden on the Orange Path, The Field! It's time to have some fun!
