Indigenous farming

The first farmers

Indigenous peoples have farmed in Southern Ontario for thousands of years. As first farmers, Indigenous groups cultivated corn, squash, and climbing beans, also known as the “Three Sisters.” The Three Sisters, planted together, create a nutritionally balanced meal and a sustainable growing system. Bean plants fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, reducing nutrient depletion in the soil and improving plant growth, while a diet of corn, beans, and squash provides complex carbohydrates and a complete protein for optimal health.