Wild Food Foragers vs Ecologists
Over the past month I've become slowly aware of a separation between two communities that should be closely aligned. It's similar to the division between cat-lovers and ecologists, but with its own distinctions
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From a utilitarian standpoint, a useful plant is more welcome than one that isn't. (I know, ecological blasphemy.) In my flower bed, morning glories are treasured. In my corn patches, they're weeds. Seen this way, most natives are weeds, and the job of the ecologist becomes PR spokesperson, trying--usually unsuccessfully--to convince the farmer and forager that the natives are useful after all.
This utilitarian view is, of course, how we ended up with monocrops of plants that aren't fit enough to survive natural competition. Trying to shield them from competition leads to herbicide pollution and erosion (from mechanical cultivation). Wouldn't it be great if our crops were tough enough to defend themselves? Without genetic tinkering? Without dousing the fields in chemicals? Wouldn't it be great if we, like the native animals, could thrive just on what grows naturally around us? What would it mean for our civilization if anyone could just reach down, pull up a handful of whatever was growing there, stuff it in their face, and be well-nourished? Think of the economic and political implications of crops that could hold their own in nature.
That's what (some) invasives are. After all, let's remember that we're invasives on this continent. We need a food that's strong enough not to go the way of the dodo. It may be that the best way to do that is to import other alien species. Eventually, thousands of years from now, it'll work itself out to the point where former invasives become thought of as natives, and anything they displace to the point of extinction are just some of the countless species that got taken out by natural selection.
;)
"Japanese knotweed moves in and there are no more frogs on the water's edge."
Hmm. On my land, there's a patch of knotweed (for which I'm so grateful that I don't tear it out, despite the fact that it's right where I'd like to build a chicken coop). I also have a catchment pond and several vernal pools. The knotweed stays confined to its little spot and hasn't appeared anywhere near the water. I didn't see any tadpoles this year, but last year, my vernal pools were teeming with them.
Last year, I deliberately introduced cattails to a swampy part, hoping they'll go to seed and spread to other parts of the land. Do you think this will draw blackbirds? What's the relation between the two?
"Garlic mustard moves into the yard and begins exuding fungicide, making it more difficult for mycorhizzae to form."
Interesting! One of the places I see garlic mustard proliferating is on the edge of a stand of trees where I find puffballs growing.
I wonder if more mushrooms would grow if I brought goats into my woods to clear out the honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and garlic mustard.
I'm also curious now about using garlic mustard around the edges of outbuildings to prevent mold.
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