10/12/2026
Gamble Garden observes Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and today we want to highlight, celebrate, and honor an Indigenous contribution in the gardening space that we have practiced all season long.
This year in the Edible Garden, we had beds with plants from five regions: Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and the Fertile Crescent. Each regional bed included planting selections that mimic the Three Sisters method, where there is a tall grain for structure, legumes to increase nitrogen levels, and squash to protect the soil and retain water. The Three Sisters are known as “sustainers of life” because each plant helps the others to grow. It is an Indigenous planting method, developed by the Iroquois in the northeastern North America, and was said to be a gift from the creators to the Iroquois people. This traditional planting method highlights the importance of companion planting, building the soil naturally, and utilizing the plants as self-supportive infrastructure.
Here at Gamble Garden, we hold a deep connection to the land, and there is much we can learn from Indigenous agricultural practices rooted in sustainability, biodiversity, and seasonal rhythms. As current caretakers of this land, we wanted to extend our deepest respect to the original stewards of the Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.
Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden sits within the traditional territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone-speaking lineages who have lived in deep relationship with this region for over 10,000 years. We extend our deepest respect to the elders, past, present, and future, of the Muwekma Ohlone community. We acknowledge their enduring presence, their ongoing revitalization of culture and language, and their continued connection to this land.
We commit to honoring this legacy by caring for the plants, soil, and living systems that sustain and nourish our community of volunteers, food banks, and seniors. We steward the land and feed the soil for all to enjoy. Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
