The Divine Plant World
By Lyndsey Redman
Now that we have shared another Thanksgiving with our loved ones, we are given time to reflect on a year of memories. The connection we share with those closest to us resembles a tradition in the Native American culture: The Three Sisters. After many of us pass around green beans, corn, and squash for the holidays, it may surprise you to learn that these foods have a special relationship.
The Three Sisters demonstrates a beautiful harmony of companion planting, also considered a style of permaculture. Each of these plants possesses a unique gift, much like each of us. The corn stalk is tall and strong, the eldest sister who leads the way. Next the climbing bean; she is flexible and resourceful. Lastly, the youngest of the sisters is the squash. Grounded and relaxed, she provides much needed comfort to the other sisters.
Though the sisters are all very different, they love each other dearly. The Three Sisters show us ways that we can support those around us with friends, family, and community. They represent a bond, one that doesn’t seek to compete, but to achieve success as unit. The beauty and wisdom of the Three Sisters reminds us that we all have a gift to share. When we embrace those qualities within ourselves, we can offer them to the world and be stronger as a whole.
Nature is full of curiosities. Gems of enchanting information can be found all around us in everyday life, as well as from many cultures. We can learn so much from the charming ways nature survives and how humans historically interact with it, mirroring its natural rhythms and patterns. Whether it’s lifting those around us like the cornstalk, comforting someone in need like the squash leaves, or providing nutrition like the bean’s roots, we are stronger together.
Check out “Braiding Sweetgrass,” a nonfiction bestseller on Indigenous wisdom