With minimal effort, native gardens can become treasures that everyone will want to duplicate.   If you have not tried natives in your garden, we challenge you to do so-- you won't be disappointed!   Native plants present wonderful possibilities for your landscape and garden. This site gives some history of Native American gardening, with special reference to the Eastern Indian tribes.  

FPreparing the Land

FCrop Protection

FWeeding and Hilling

FSaving Seeds

FRegional Gardening

F The Crops

• Corn
• Beans
• Squash
• Watermelon
• Jerusalem Artichoke

FHarvesting and Preserving

FNative Plants

FNative Trees

FNative Food

FAmerican Indian Ethnobotany

Gardening was extremely important in native cultures.  Before cultivating crops, the indigenous peoples were dependent upon the habits and seasonal migrations of mammals and fish, something that human beings have little control over.  By farming, the people had a food supply they could better control and depend on.  Now in addition to the native wild plants and animals, Indians could produce a food supply with a surplus for emergencies and trade. They were able to settle into larger and more powerful communities.

Crop cultivation changed Indian cultures in other ways also.  Men had been the hunters and fishermen, while women were responsible for gathering wild plants and shellfish.  With farming, the woman's role became more important as food producers.  Women planted, weeded, and harvested the crops.

Many peoples sought the aid of spirit powers that control the sun, rain, and earth for help in farming. This led to new ceremonies.  Ceremonies of thanksgiving for the blessings of rain and harvest and for ensuring good crops were practiced.

Most planting sites were located on level ground near rivers, ponds, and coastal areas. The staple foods grown were corn, beans, and squash.  The sachem, or head of the community would allot sections of fertile ground to each household.  They had the right to cultivate and harvest it. The size of the lot depended upon the ability of the women to harvest it.

Good Books 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants: For American Gardens in Temperate Zones Landscaping Revolution : Garden With Mother Nature, Not Against Her Keepers of Life : Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children

 Littleflower's Shops l Lame Wolf's Den - resource center l Folk Remedies & Healing Wisdom l The Medicine of North American Plants l Take Action - Big Mountain, Arizona l Help a native elder l Herbs & Vegetables l Native American Music l Gardening l People of Starlight - Native American Artists on the Web l Contact Us l

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