First Harvest of the year from our Three Sisters Gardens!

[@skinker2011]

It is great to see the harvest. But I think the most important crop you are cultivating is community. Videos on community building would be as interesting to me as videos on gardening and self-reliance. Keep up the great work! You have something special going on in Pittsburgh.

[@joypayton3814]

This makes me think of weekends at my great-aunt Ethel's. She lived like she was Amish; not because she HAD to, it was because she WANTED to. She had a wood-burning stove in her "summer kitchen" off the back porch where she did her canning (all the jars were on pegs in the back wall-as she needed them, she just took them down, washed them, and filled them with the garden's and surrounding wood's bounty). She had chickens and rabbits for meat and eggs, a medicinal herb garden, a culinary herb garden, a 2 acre vegetable garden, a large berry patch, fruit trees and beautiful flowers everywhere. She gave my cousins jars of pickles, sauerkraut and preserves (always with the admonishment to bring the empties back because jars were expensive), and they gave her honey from their bees, and maple syrup and maple sugar from their maple grove. No TV, oil lamps...it was heaven to me as a child. I'm so grateful for the time I spent with her, learning to garden, can foods, quilt, sew, etc. She was a true blessing.

[@JellyFish6776]

I feel like I could watch your videos for hours

[@AlanaLee-xv2qy]

Yep it is a labor of love. This week I probably spent 8 hours making broth and harvesting and chopping veg and meat for a year's supply of canned veg beef soup. I always doubt myself but when I open a can for lunch in February, I'll be so happy.

[@astudent8885]

I need to learn to can things

[@Deee45]

Not gonna lie, that amethyst looking corn really is a gorgeous piece of natures art!

[@babadukk]

Your video transported me to an idyllic time in early childhood when I would hang out in the backyard while my grandma tended to the garden.

[@saraherber1887]

What a beautiful harvest. The children were involved and a delight to see. I remember granny walking through the garden and filling her apron pockets with what would become supper. Nice to see you young people with a zest for gardening, family and community. Sunshine to you.

[@KristelViljoen]

Ethan isn't just OK. His music transforms you content from great to, as the Italians says...: Spectacular!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Oh yea I was totally kidding, he’s incredible! 🙂

[@KristelViljoen]

@@HomegrownHandgathered I know but I still wanted to give him recognition and praise. Background music can be tricky and you nailed it! Love your channel.

[@K12345ab]

@@HomegrownHandgatheredI enjoy getting to recognize your humor with each video! 😆

[@juliabeaulieu9274]

I've watched so many of your videos this week, and I've learned so much! I don't currently have a garden, but my parents do and there's so much in your videos that could help and inspire them. I love the mix of clips from harvesting, processing, and (in other videos) cooking that really ties everything together and emphasizes how we're part of an ecosystem and growing your own food is a way to appreciate that. Ethan's music is so beautiful and relaxing, too!

[@yickyhite1725]

16:26 Thank you guys for being you and allowing us to be a part of your journey. Those purples really were popping this year. Great job!

[@AlicedeTerre]

I read Jared Diamond’s book “the world up until yesterday” about traditional human societies and one of the aspects he talked about was how some groups or individuals, rather than having all their farmland concentrated in one location, had smaller scattered plots in different areas, some inconveniently far. It seemed counterintuitive and inefficient until he learned that they did so in order to diversify their garden plots. If disease or pest struck one area then they had other gardens that could still provide. Anyway, the way you have smaller separate plots around reminded me of that!

[@justinweaver7543]

I can never get enough of your content! ❤ Those long corn leaves are also great for making corundas, a type of tamal that is usually prepared without a filling. Since this is also peak tomato and chile season, you have everything you need for a great salsa, too.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Thanks for the tip! And we’re so glad you’re enjoying the videos 🙂

[@LaineyBug2020]

Hey next year can y'all try a fresh produce version of 3 Sisters also? Sweet corn (and/or baby corn), green beans and some kind of summer squash? Then you can do some fusion recipes with stir fry or grilled veggies at a cookout! Always great served with wild rice and salmon or venison. I love rounding the dishes out with some caramelized bell peppers of all colors, sweet onions and garlic either combined with the wild rice or with those pretty little gem potatoes chuncked a roasted. If you're going with the cookout, grilling the veggies and adding to some fresh fry bread is also amazing!

[@owl369]

The music is a dream❤

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Right?? It’s by our friend Ethan 🙂

[@PEN7367]

Could you make a video on your nixtamalization process please?

[@ac4941]

I grew up in a family where all of our family would make wine and can tomato sauce. We would invite everyone over and can hundreds of jars of tomato sauce in a single day with everyone's help, and everyone would go home with sauce. Maybe that's labor, but processing tomatoes with loved ones is not work.

[@lisacornett9364]

Your voice + Ethan's music + wonderful, interesting content = new subscriber.

[@nanchesca3950]

I love how you have combined your love of gardening, self sustenance, cooking and video creation. Such great story tellers❤

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Thank you!

[@glen5834]

These videos are so relaxing. I've been making cordage using the husks of my own homegrown corn, and your videos are perfect to have on in the background!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

I do that sometimes too! It’s not the strongest in the world, but it’s still fun to make right? 🙂 For a really strong cordage we use milkweed and dogbane stems after they die out in the winter

[@KOLLEKZIYA_FASOLI]

💚💚💚I grow more than 500 varieties of beans. This is a very amazing plant. Thanks for the video.💚💚💚

[@adamosman2142]

This made me happy

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Love to hear that!

[@lauraadams6902]

I totally agree with you on that corn being the most beautiful thing ever!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

*Second most beautiful! 😅

[@sofiamikaela9667]

you guys can also save the little corn hairs for corn silk tea, a very popular tea in south korea!

[@GardnSavvy]

Love these videos ❤ I have grown glass gem corn the last two years and I use them for decorating mostly but bc of your videos I checked and they’re a dent corn and can be popped or made into flour, after nixtamalization (sp?), which I found very cool. They really are stunning when you open them with every colour in the rainbow. This year my son and I picked the best colours from last year and grew them for this years crop and I really can’t wait to see what they look like in a few weeks 😁

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea glass gem is a great multipurpose corn! Our friends grow it and use it for cornmeal and nixtamal

[@caramcmurry1343]

you guys really inspired me to grow staple crops this year! im out in PNW, so experimenting with what works best in our climate, especially as it changes. tried two plots of three sisters and the corn is corning!!! the pumpkins are pumpkining!!! the beans are...trying!!! thanks for sharing this labor of love with the world and lil ol me 🫶🫶

[@lisacornett9364]

Love Ethan's music!

[@samkaleii]

i love your videos so much, y’all are living my dream

[@emilyandersen8963]

I inspire to get to that level. I do have a garden that is 30'x32'. I came mostly to comment that I'm happy that I'm not the only one that uses what I prune off as mulch! The few people I talk to in my area about gardening give me the strangest looks when I talk about it

[@vangmeevue7843]

Wow. Inspiring me to grow a harvest like yours too! Its just the water bill that will be a big factor plus California's up to 100 plus degrees summer days. Not easy just for anyone to have put up shade cloth to have a better gardening.

[@RoodiniCats]

Beautiful.😊 Ethan's tunes a lovely backdrop! Loving your videos. Saying "that was corny" .... Was also corny! 😂 Peace!

[@elainechan6249]

Love your love of mama earth and of each other (chuckled at the blue corn being the 2nd most beautiful!) and of community!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

😊❤️

[@blackquartzsphinx6853]

I'm always amazed you guys can grow corn and tomatoes and stuff like that so easily until I remember you're literally in America haha. The harvest looks great and the people around you even greater. You've really made quite a life for yourselves!

[@kimsome8334]

I love you guys so much, you give me hope for our species and planet

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Aw thank you so much! We’re so glad to be bringing you hope. You made my day 🙂

[@tereclemmer7923]

It looks like such fun, enjoyable, and deliciously rewarding hobby!

[@tigerguitara]

Your corn is so beautiful and I’m always envious of your harvest lol

[@merislaw1987]

Beautiful blue corn, they look like little gems!

[@ramplense01]

Amazing!! I'd love to spend a season with you guys ‼️ and also wish for an hour+ videos so I can watch you guys and relax while dreaming about having my own garden ❤️

[@victoriaspringle4873]

Hehe. I like the friendly dig at your friend Ethan... As if every video doesn't feature his music!

[@tevin99]

Last year I grew Painted Mountain corn, ate a few, and kept the rest for decorations. This year I grew Hookers Sweet corn, and I’m planning on drying 99% for cornmeal. Do you heat treat the corn at all before air drying it? And if so-can that be done in an oven on the lowest setting, if one doesn’t have access to a dehydrator? Your videos are amazing, thank you!! And happy harvest indeed!

[@shantil7764]

I loooove your vids. Btw you might want to try weaving baskets with the corn leaves ! It was my first year trying to grow the three sisters on the community plot but the weather has been a disaster in France since april and everything ends up rotting before it’s even ripe 😢

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We actually did try that last year! 🙂 I’ve also seen folks make little chair seats with them. We mostly make baskets from willow and dogwood though

[@AnimeLove300]

I also read somewhere that if you plant different varieties of corn at different times, that you can avoid cross pollination. I'm currently experimenting with a popcorn variety and a container sweet corn variety growing in different pots; planted about 3 weeks apart. So far sweet corn has tassels and popcorn has yet to tassel (started a bit late this season) hopefully looking forward to some good results :)

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea that’s a great method too. We actually posted a short video about that a few weeks ago

[@AnimeLove300]

Thanks! I'll definitely check it out 😁

[@dr.o.6150]

So satisfying to watch …

[@salliegottula467]

Ha great music very talented do enjoy a lot.

[@tracy6144]

What variety of black bean are you growing? They look slightly larger than mine which are black turtle. I’m excited to grow chickpeas next year you guys have been my inspiration in that!

[@1SueU]

Loved this one especially :)

[@salliegottula467]

Yum how fortunate you are!!

[@victoriag7573]

Huitlacoche, yum! Have you done a video on cooking with this?

[@michaelchen163]

Could you guys do a video on cover cropping?

[@lisanowakow3688]

Not just eat, eat great nutritious meals too!

[@d.f.8005]

I love you guys!

[@zakahmed455]

I wanted to ask whether you know of anyone who grows similar crops with similar methods in more semi arid conditions with minimal irrigation? (Also I am sure you hear this alot but these videos are incredible and very inspiring)

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea, actually the Hopi blue corn was bred specifically for arid conditions in Hopi land and the Navajo nation so I would recommend looking for some folks growing out there. Cowboy Woolboy is in the Navajo nation and I’d recommend his videos for some tips on the traditional style of growing it in dry land

[@zakahmed455]

​@@HomegrownHandgathered That's great to hear, I'll definitely check him out thank you very much

[@ebicha5756]

Great harvest man!

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Thanks!

[@jackiemcgregor7460]

Do you have a video on how you save your beans? I would love to can mine but I haven't found a recipe we like.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We just let them dry fully and then store them in glass jars to cook as needed

[@prettybyaccident]

Ok my potatoes flopped this year too glad to no I'm not the only one. This was the first year gardening with my new boyfriend and the potatoes were making me look bad LOL

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Haha well I’m sure you’ll impress him next year! Around here it was just too hot and dry for the potatoes to thrive. You have similar conditions where you are this year?

[@joybreegaming8781]

@@HomegrownHandgatheredwe live a state away and had similar issues with our potatoes and weather. I put out a really late crop in July and am hoping I’ll get a harvest

[@jayanderson1323]

You two plus your family and friends you work with are so inspiring, I only grew container strawberries and some different varieties of tomatoes this year but I hope to do more next year.

[@DongFarm7749]

Thật tuyệt vời 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

[@JayFours419]

🎉🎉 Yay!! I've been waiting for the harvest for this year 🎉🎉

[@LaineyBug2020]

Have y'all tried making stuff out of the corn husks?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

We use them for tamale wrappers and fire-starters sometimes, but that’s about it. I tried turning them into cordage, but the fibers are a little too weak to be good for much

[@jerryboba_]

15:52 it looks like there was a rendering glitch where it flickers green for a few seconds

[@kellybryson7754]

You're right, that was "corny"

[@beck1393]

Your Ethan joke was kinda corny😂. He is an awesome musician, love hearing his tunes while watching your videos. A win win😊

[@heathermaries7251]

Beautiful! 😍 Mukch would benefit your potatoes. I've used straw, woodchips - potatoes are not picky. Check out the Ruth Stout method for easy abundance!

[@jasonbrougham1178]

Wait, was that huitlacoche?! Did that just happen or you inoculated it?!

[@sharonmartin2322]

Does all the corn dry like that or is there a particular type of corn.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

These are flour and grain corns for grinding and making things like tortillas, grits, tamales, cornbread, ugali, etc. Sweet corns would shrivel up if you dried them like this since they’re mostly sugar and water.

[@DavidRybka]

do you use the corn fungus for anything?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea, we cook it up and put it in quesadillas sometimes.

[@kerby132]

What growing zone are you in?

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

6b

[@ClaireRousseau]

Very jelly of your beautiful corn harvest! I grew my first patch of sweetcorn this year but here in the UK, we had such a long, cool, wet spring and early summer that they really struggled. And then a few days ago they got taken out in a Mystery Corn Massacre - bent and gnawed stalks, every good ear missing, etc... we think it was probably rodents, but basically my lil' corn patch is a proper goner for this year. I'll have to try again next spring/summer. Luckily, I screwed up my 3 sisters timings earlier this year, so my beans didn't die along with the corn...

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Yea the UK is a really tough environment to grow corn and beans. They usually like it hot and dry. Ful aka broad beans and chickpeas might work better for you in that environment.

[@ClaireRousseau]

@@HomegrownHandgathered I've never actually tried growing broad beans - I'm only on my third gardening season but I've got a few drying beans in this year inspired by your videos - I have a greek giant one I'm super excited about but I'll look into ful and chickpeas

[@_-Bane-_Main]

How do you keep birds away from your tomatoes? I had a San Marzano plant in my yard a while back, and they annihilated most of the ones I grew. I certainly didn’t mind feeding the birds, but the tomato crime scene left behind looked atrocious.

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

The birds don’t really mess with them too much around here. Maybe they’re too distracted by our corn haha

[@Curious1598]

1:20 mean you! 😂...Ethen you did a great job...

[@HomegrownHandgathered]

Oh yea, Ethan is incredible! I was being sarcastic 😊

[@Curious1598]

@@HomegrownHandgathered yes yes......I get you... I love your work... I'll fly to your place someday and meet you..... 💪🏻