By Gracie Elliott —<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Conservatory on Miami Regionals\u2019 Hamilton campus hosts a plethora of speakers throughout the school year. This semester, the building has been home for the series \u201cConservatory Conversations.\u201d Every other Monday, plant lovers from across campus gather to gain knowledge on a new biology-related topic. Recently, Biology Professor Janelle Allen discussed the importance of companion planting with her presentation \u201cThankful Plants: Good Givers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCompanion planting\u201d is the act of intentionally growing certain vegetables, fruits, or plants in close proximity to one another for their mutual benefit. In other words, certain plants tend to thrive when planted close to one other. One of the most famous versions of this is the \u201cThree Sisters\u201d: squash, corn, and beans developed by the Iroquois people, and designed to improve the fertility of the soil and improve overall growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Allen mentioned that this native cultivation pathway has many positive effects including increased soil productiveness, pest protection, attractiveness to pollinators, reduced presence of weeds, and increased growth. Natasha Harris and Jessica Streets detail the effect of certain plants in their article \u201cCompanion Planting.\u201d In this piece, they explain that \u201cplants with taproots, such as carrots or radishes, can help alleviate soil compaction issues. Deep-rooted crops like asparagus or watermelon can pull nutrients and water from deeper in the soil profile.\u201d As a result, plants are getting more nutrients and are therefore healthier for the consumer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This concept ties into the reality that many Americans are deficient in nutrients. According to the Linus Pauling Institute\u2019s Micronutrient Information Center, approximately 75% of Americans consume less than the recommended intake of fruit, and 80% consume less than the recommended intake of vegetables. Individuals are at a higher risk for nutrient deficiencies, as fruits and vegetables are a primary natural source of nutrients.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This connects with another important point that Professor Allen made that also pertains to nutrients. She spoke about the issue of our food supply often lacking nutrients in our local grocery stores, since large corporations tend to prioritize quantity over quality, and therefore farmers are forced to prioritize this as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this may seem drab and discouraging, these facts actually lead to what Professor Allen deems \u201cthe ultimate space for opportunity.\u201d Individuals have the chance to learn and understand the needs of their body and determine how effectively these needs are being met. In the case that an individual feels his or her needs are not being met by store-bought produce, there is another solution to be explored: growing one\u2019s own produce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where Professor Allen\u2019s discussion connected to \u201ccompanion planting,\u201d since it is not something reserved for just the experts; it is available to anyone willing to try. Using a companion planting chart can help beginners understand the connections between certain plants. Individuals can also utilize a journal to keep track of their findings as they experiment planting different crops near one another. Professor Allen pointed out that getting in contact with a local community of gardeners can also help one get started.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information on this topic, readers can contact Professor Janelle Allen at allenjr1@miamioh.edu<\/a> or the Miami Regionals Conservatory at MURConservatory@miamioh.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The final Conservatory Conversation will take place on Monday, December 2, 2024. All Miami students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend either in person or via Zoom to learn more about “Holiday Horticulture.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"