Native American Day @ Crossroads Farm!

The Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum conducted a fun and educational Native American Cultural Day at Crossroads Farm today. They performed a special Native American dance and cultural workshop including an authentic planting demonstration for the many local education groups - including hundreds of students from Saint Annes of Garden City, Waldorf School of Garden City, Grace Lutheran School of Malverne and IHM Home School.

Students participated in planting a special “Three Sisters Garden" of crops using Native American Techniques. According to the Iroquois legend, corn, beans and squash are the three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. Today we call this “companion planting.” The Iroquois believe corn, beans and squash are precious gifts from the Great Spirit. Each vegetable is watched over by one of he three sister spirits called the “Deohako” or “Our Sustainers.”

Benefits of Three Sisters Garden:

Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb.
Beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving overall fertility of the plot by providing nitrogen to the soil.
Bean vines also stabilize the corn plants, making them less vulnerable to blowing over in the wind.
Shallow-rooted squash vines become living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating.

Special thanks to the Shinnecok Nation Cultural Center instructors for dedicating their time and efforts today to make such a great event for our local school children: