Yield, growth, and labor demands of growing maize, beans, and squash in monoculture versus the Three Sisters

Many Native American communities have historically grown maize, beans, and squash in polyculture as the Three Sisters because of the reciprocal ecological benefits the species provide each other and the surrounding environment. For instance, archaeological remains indicate that the Catawba Indian Nation had grown the Three Sisters for hundreds of years before experiencing the expansion of the colonial market economy, a smallpox epidemic, and the drastic loss of land. As a result, they have lost extensive traditional ecological knowledge as it pertains to farming. To support the Catawba Indian Nation’s food sovereignty initiatives, we assess the yield and labor demands of growing their traditional variety of maize, beans, and squash plants in the Three Sisters planting design versus in monoculture conditions. While total Maize yield was highest in monoculture, plants grew larger, had higher survival, and produced greater yield per plant and per unit area of land in the Three Sisters. Squash yield was highest in monoculture. Trellising bean plants in monoculture required the most labor, yet, altogether, yield per hour of labor was higher in monoculture than in the Three Sisters. Ultimately, the most appropriate farming strategy for the Catawba Indian Nation to use will depend on their priorities (e.g., maximizing the production of one species versus producing a balanced diet). We discuss the challenges managers of small farms face when considering traditional vs. modern agricultural methods and describe how a respectful partnership between the Catawba Nation and Davidson College expanded and enhanced the outcomes of this study.

Methods
Data were collected from a field experiment conducted at the Catawba Indian Nation's Black Snake Farm, Rock Hill, SC, 29730 (34°55'10.5"N, 80°53'45.1"W) during the growing season in 2023.