The hidden life of trees, so many possibilities in this statement! Could there be a hole life that we don’t know? Like in the fictional novel The Lord Of The Rings where there are some magical creatures who take care of the forest and the trees listen and talk to each other. Well this book, “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben is the most well informed study about trees that is easy to understand. I will say it’s a must read in order to understand and duplicate productive forests. I wont spill all the beans but I will show you how this information from this book can be used for a productive food forest. Now there are three major points to take away; 1. How they are introduced and/ or grow up, is important 2. Diversity is a blessing in multiple ways 3. How we manage the forest can change or impact in a positive or Negative way.
1. How they grow up and introduce to the forest.
This is where I didn’t really know this process was so important to not only have good quality wood. But for the health of the forest last longer from drought, bug infestations, and so much more. I honestly thought all you had to do was to plant a tree in place of a tree that you cut down. But once I heard what the forest does naturally, I realized there is more that can be done in order for the tree to stay healthy. I have heard old orchards where there was a time when something came in and killed almost the entire orchard or when they ran out of water they died. That’s a lot of stress that adds up when you have the same species with particular spacing for each tree. But this book highlights about forest starting seedlings and thriving because they were created with their particular environment in mind. Think about it, we all know about genetics right? The stuff that is a cocktail of things from our ancestors, with a unique amount of each that makes us who we are physically. Similarly with trees they create seeds that is matched with other similar trees to make the best generation for the particular place they are at. So if you have your own fruit trees, keep in mind that the pit might produce the next generation of trees that produce better and are more healthy in your particular environment. We also have the talent to clone a branch and have the same exact duplicate of the original plant. I would like to note that you can use this to increase your amount of trees, but remember what they know and what they can handle will be the same as the original plant. Now this is only one part of the process, what about when to plant, how to raise the plant, and how that impacts our plants continual health. This is where it gets even more interesting than it is already! Alright this book, The Hidden Life of Trees has particular study’s about how they interact with each other. Would you believe me if I said that trees can and would raise there young? It’s true! This book explains it as the trees go to pre school with the mother trees and they are learning the traits of a good tree the sad part is they die if they don’t follow what they are being taught. What they are being taught? Well life skills such as growing up straight, nutrition, even being thrifty with water consumption. Now we as a outside source of encouragement can help these young ones become good healthy trees, after all we do like more fruit. Space doesn’t matter in the natural forests in fact they prefer more closer than we realize with the younger generation. That is part of their education, in a natural forest the young trees only get down to 25% sun light or lower and yet they become the most healthy because they take the time to develop better roots or trunks. Just remember that the gown up version should be as close as it can in relation to its fellow trees and they can adjust to make more room as it grows.
2 Diversity
But why is diversity important and why is it a blessing? Well do you remember that I hinted they can talk to each other. One of the ways they do this is by their roots, more important to note through a fungi network that is connected to the roots of all the trees. Now fungi can only grow in moist earth with lots of organic matter, hence they like to grow more closer together because of the fungi. Through this fungi they transfer particular food product to this fungi and it gets transferred to there young, fellow species, and other types of trees. Not only that but they transfer chemicals to the other plants to let them know what is going on from pest to sickness they send those notifications through these chemicals. Now here’s why you put levels in your food forests the pioneer trees start transforming your soil health and shade for all the other trees, then you add your lumber trees then your fruit trees, and then your shrubs, all the way down to the floor. Because you are creating a better climate for your fungi network. So that you don’t have to kill all the bugs, sickness, or even water them. It slowly becomes a self working system.
3 our efforts and management
Now this is not going to happen just in the first day you plant your trees. In fact It is a life transformation on behalf of the trees. You see They become what we know as Senor’s age when they are 500 years or more! It would be cool but I would think I’m to confidant to say that I could not make It that long. So why do all this work? Why just do what we have done before.? When I said It takes a while to maturity I mean the maximum productivity of the forest will take years. Now It DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WONT SEE ANY PROGRESS WHATSOEVER BETWEEN NOW AND MATURITY!!! You will see progress and you will have to do less as it matures which is a good thing! Do you see yourself having to go out there and water and fertilize every single tree you planted when you are 95? When I get to that age I would see myself be really tired really fast. I do want to see myself take care of some of the younger trees that I cloned from the tree that I cut for my great grandchild’s rocking crib as a luxury. So you are setting up a better retirement plan then having to do more work because another problem arises. That mean you have the permission to slowly add more trees as you have the money to do so instead of getting all the trees at once. So if you are up for this adventure here is what you need to do. Click this green button below this article and answer some questions and write down your email. When you do it it will subscribe you to my email list and I will send you more information, tips, and ways to. Create the ultimate food paradise right where you live. Here is also the link to the book to get your own.
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Jackson
