The Milpa, otherwise known as 3 sisters, is a cultivation method, inherited from the people of central America. It consists in sowing 3 plants together that have beneficial synergies together. These plants are the pumpkin, corn, and beans. The pumpkin has deep roots, pumping nutrients from deep below, its large leaves protecting the other plants against weeds and humidity loss. The beans fix nitrogen out of the air with the help of their symbiotic rhizobia bacteria.
The corn serves as a climbing help for the beans. The flowers and other plants growing in the Milpa are the support team. They attract beneficial animals and pollinators. Nonetheless, the Milpa is a beautiful example that showcases the hidden synergies between plants. It is a reminder that we should work together, rather than against each other, in order to harvest greater yields. Literally and figuratively.
