Planting Life 2025: Three Sisters Garden Planting Ceremony (Part 3)

In this session of Planting Life, we participate in the sacred planting ceremony that honors indigenous wisdom through the cultivation of ancestral crops—corn, beans, and squash—known as the Three Sisters. Led by indigenous teachers, the gathering weaves together Native American agricultural practices with Buddhist mindfulness, sweeping the mind and returning to our roots. The ceremony emphasizes our deep connection to the earth, with Roxanne reminding us that “we are corn people” and that seeds carry the memory of generations. Participants plant with intention, understanding that “culture doesn’t happen overnight but through time.” The ritual planting includes prayers for healing, offerings to ancestors, and the creation of clay vessels (ollas) —an ancient southwestern technology. Underlying the afternoon is a theme of humility and gratitude, with Keido sharing another dichos from his grandmother: “Some people don’t plant one seed, but they want to eat the best corn… Don’t be like that one.” This gathering represents both agricultural practice and spiritual communion, honoring the original inhabitants of the land while fostering cultural resilience through the “medicine of the land.” To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.