Much of what we now call regenerative agriculture is rooted in knowledge that Indigenous communities have practiced for generations.
We’re honored to partner with Jennifer Neptune (Penobscot), Director of the Penobscot Nation Museum, artist and herbalist, to co-create a Seven Sisters garden as part of our Casco History Lab. With support from the Maine Humanities Council the project brings Wabanaki-cultivated crops back to the Homelands of Freeport for what is likely the first time in more than 270 years.
The garden features Abenaki Rose Corn, Norridgewock Pole Beans, Penobscot Pumpkins, sunchokes, Maximillian sunflowers, groundnuts and bee balm. At its center is the companion planting of corn, beans and squash, an agricultural system built on reciprocity. Corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, and squash helps retain moisture while protecting the soil.
This project is about more than restoring a traditional planting. It’s about recognizing the enduring stewardship of the Penobscot people, helping address the historic erasure of Indigenous communities from their Homelands and creating opportunities to learn from agricultural knowledge that remains deeply relevant today.
We’re grateful to Jennifer Neptune and the Maine Humanities Council for their partnership in bringing this important work to life
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