Trees usually take forever to grow and are still young and green when we are old and as good as bald. A mature tree supports a whole ecosystem of animals, plants and soil organisms for generations, even in death. Around each person is also a large diverse netwerk of individuals who are dependent on their interactions in order to earn enough to remain alive. Like our tree cohabitants, we also enrich our surroundings when we die and get buried. In short, people and trees do have some simularities but also some differences (which is actually not that strange!).
Both young people and young trees should be given all the help that they can get to become part of a future generation. People need trees more than trees need people but people often destroy or harm trees without fully realizing the long term impact on their own environment. Let young trees become old trees so that young people also can strengthen their roots and branch out into the world around them in a way that is strong and sustainable.
And the reason for this slightly philosophical deliberation?: a request for inoculation plugs from a local Food Forest club a couple of weeks ago. They wanted to remove a healthy prominent native old alder on their property so that a young walnut of uncertain origin (too) close by could continue to grow unhinderd. It is of course a choice but it is not my idea of Edible Wood. And the result…..? No idea but they have not (yet) placed an order!
