I've been reading an interesting book by Suzanne Simard called Finding the Mother Tree. Suzanne was taking forestry and wanted to find a better way to plant trees on a clear cut. Suzanne's premise was that trees communicate and support one another. She created dozens of experiments and tests to show that trees do share and that nutrients pass from tree to tree. Therefore, certain trees and shrubs should be left to support the new seedlings. In other words foresters should not weed or spray other species. Foresters want trees that will grow and mature in a short time.
Foresters were not interested in Suzanne's new idea so she had a difficult time promoting her ideas.
She found that some trees need less nutrients at a certain time while others need more. She was able to prove that what was in one tree was later found in another tree. Some plants with deep roots spend the night bringing up water to the surface where other plants use the water in the day time. .
What really caught my eye is when she wandered off and used her forestry ideas to plant her vegetable garden. She made plate sized mounds and planted 5 or six different varieties of seeds in each mound thinking that the different varieties would support each other. Her garden was a series of small hills with a number of plants sown in each hill. Her garden thrived.
We can also go back to aboriginal gardens and find that they planted an number of seeds together in a hill.
It's good that we have people like Suzanne who are willing to work hard and show us new ideas,
Tempting to try! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteYes, tempting but not this year.
DeleteThis sounds like a very interesting book. I have heard about how trees help each other out. They are living things, maybe not in the sense that we know it, but I am a firm believer in that we are all connected.
ReplyDeleteI heard a speaker on this topic a long time ago. Much research has been done since
DeleteThe idea that trees/plants communicate with each other is still quite novel to many people. We don't know what we don't know!
ReplyDeletewe have to used to the idea of other methods of communicating.
DeleteThe idea of plants supporting each other is familiar to me but putting them on a hill is new.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, I must google
This research has been going on for some time.
DeleteI found that post absolutely fascinating and very educational.
ReplyDeleteThe book has many interesting ideas. There are many questions that need to be answered.
DeleteInteresting stuff, Red.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about some of this stuff before.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of clear cutting. Most times trees are not planted to take the place of the ones cut. Some of the forest around our home was clear cut and it seems it allowed non-native plants to grow in place of trees. Take care, have a wonderful day and a happy week.
Some foresters like clear cutting because it makes them lots of money. the rest of us don't like clear cutting.
DeleteBeautiful post dear Red!
ReplyDeleteThe book you read sounds really interesting and full of wonderful information about plants 👍🥰
I agree that world needs more like Suzanne who can introduce us reality hidden in the display of Nature!
I strongly believe that Creator has designed Nature as skilfully that every aspect of it has something particular for us to understand and adopt.
When we look carefully we realise connection between different things and how secretly they support each other. Lesson is here for humans,most intelligent specie to learn for harmless and better living
Humans need to be much smarter to understand what is going on around them.
DeleteI never had much luck with vegetable gardens. Interesting post about this woman, Red. Do you use this method in your garden?
ReplyDeleteI do not use this method as I just found out about it. I've gardened most of my life. Gardening runs in the genes here.
DeleteHer book looks really interesting, Red. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeletethere's a lot of technical stuff but it's needed so that we understand how she's going about finding answers.
DeleteRed, it’s inspiring to see science and traditional knowledge aligning so beautifully. John
ReplyDeleteIndustry is one of the problems in many cases as in this one.
DeleteInteresting. Another example of why divirsity is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteFarmers need to hear about this.
DeleteGreat post. It's interesting when people try out their ideas and succeed.
ReplyDeleteShe had done much research. It's interesting all the testing that is done to prove something.
DeleteSome plants are very picky who they want to grow next too! Sounds like you found a gal with some great ideas!
ReplyDeleteShe has done most of her work in forestry but her garden test was interesting.
DeleteHooray for scientists!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much work this woman did. She was in a man's work and faced huge challenges.
DeleteWhat an interesting idea, that some trees bring up water that other plants can then use.
ReplyDeleteI love this, her curiosity definitely bringing out the best!
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: This is so interesting. Gosh… our lemon tree must be so lonely. There’s no trees around to share anything with. What a wonderful thought.
ReplyDelete