"Three Sisters" Demonstration Garden

Three Sisters Demonstration Garden

The Three Sisters Demonstration Garden is a large project being developed by University of California Cooperative Extension Madera County Master Gardeners as a permanent resource for residents of Madera County. It will provide learning opportunities for K-12 students and community college students as well as for the general public. The Demonstration Garden is located at the Madera State Center Community College on a two-acre parcel allotted by the college for this purpose. The name "Three Sisters" was chosen for the garden in recognition of the wise growing practices and respect for the land shown by Native American cultures. The garden site was officially dedicated in March 2009, although there is still much work to be done to complete this project.

Development to date has been made possible by considerable community support via thousands of hours of volunteer labor by Madera County Master Gardeners and others and by thousands of dollars worth of donated services and materials. All monies raised from the annual Madera County Master Gardener Glorious Garden Tour goes to support the demonstration garden. Through these efforts, land has been cleared and prepared, irrigation and electrical systems have been installed, decomposed granite pathways have been created, and chain link fencing has been installed around the perimeter. The storage container is in place.

Completed individual garden areas are the California native garden, rose garden, butterfly garden, seasonal garden, and the turf demonstration plot. More than 50 trees have been planted including landscape trees and a fruit & nut orchard. Gardens in progress at this time include a Children’s Garden, labyrinth and the vegetable garden.

The overall garden design includes areas for California native plants, herbs, vegetables, fruit and nut trees, annuals, perennials, low water use landscaping, gardens that attract birds & butterflies, and many others. Gardening methods that impact Madera County communities both in the mountain and valley areas are emphasized. These methods include promoting healthy lifestyles by environmentally responsible horticultural practices, composting, water conservation, detecting and managing invasive species, reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides, improving fire protection through plant selection, and growing edible plants.

Children's Garden Playhouse