Minesing in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024

1. Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens Marker

Inscription. Our Plant Heritage — The “Three Sisters”The “Three Sisters” method of planting is a traditional agricultural strategy believed to have originated with the Iroquois before being adopted by Indigenous peoples across North America.

Corn is the first sister. It grows a tall, strong stalk that beans can climb.

Squash is the second sister. It grows around the bottom of the corn stalk, where its large leaves keep the soil moist and cool. Its prickly leaves and stems discourage predators from eating the corn stalk, as well as the squash plant itself.

Beans are the third sister. The bean plant grows up through the squash and climbs the corn stalk, binding the three sisters together. Beans have special “nitrogen fixing nodules” on their roots. The nodules allow the bean plant to turn nitrogen in the air into useable nitrogen in the soil, providing fertilizer to all three sisters.

Sunflowers (pictured here) were also an integral food source.

Settlers’ GardensIndigenous people were critical to the survival of the original settlers. They introduced the new Canadians to local foods such as pemmican (a paste of dried meat and fat), maple sugar, chestnuts, and berries which became the mainstays of their diets.

Along with the three sisters, the settlers would

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have brought with them plant varieties from Europe, including peas, rue, lovage and broom corn.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Forts and Castles • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 44° 23.726′ N, 79° 49.319′ W. Marker is in Minesing, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from Grenfel Road 3.6 kilometers north of Sunnidale Road (County Road 40), on the left when traveling north. The marker is located on the Historic Fort Willow grounds at Fort Willow Conservation Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2714 Grenfel Road, Minesing ON L0L 1Y3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stable and Yard (here, next to this marker); Barracks/Cookhouse (a few steps from this marker); Officer's Quarters/Commandant's House (a few steps from this marker); Blacksmith (a few steps from this marker); Blockhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Officer's Cookhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Barracks/Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Willow History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minesing.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Historic Fort Willow

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024

2. Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens Marker

Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 6, 2024

3. Indigenous & Settlers' Gardens

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.