Recently, I helped my parents maintain their property in Beverly, MA. My dad has, in the last few years changed careers from Cabinet Maker to Landscaper, and my mom, while maintaining a career in Early Childhood care, has also become a backyard gardener selling her “crop” at the local farmers market. Each of them have a great knowledge of plants based on their experience of owning properties, and now their daily jobs. Lucky for me, they are also exceptional (and patient) teachers.
Our day of maintenance started with general shrub pruning, a bit of weeding and planting, but ended with a surprisingly interesting twist. Some of the trees and bushes on the property had partly died. There was a willow tree with several large trunk like branches which had completely died as well as several others which needed a significant amount of help.
I was taught that these dead branches needed to be removed, but only down to the “V” where there was new growth. This allows the plant to give its resources not to the compromised portions of the plant, but rather, the actively growing parts. We then took the “dead stuff” and brought it to the local composting dump where home owners can bring grass cuttings and other organic matter. In return, you can ask for buckets of compost to add back into your garden.
I had the pleasure of camping in New Hampshire this past week, and based on this lesson, noticed that forests will do the same thing. Trees and other shrubs and plants grow where they are able, and if portions of the plant die, the branches become brittle over time, and will snap off in heavy wind, or snow storm. The branches drop to the forest floor, and become compost for the tree itself.
There is a wonderful story written by Tom Brown Jr. about his mentor, who he calls Grandfather, which touches on this subject.
As a child living in a Native American Tribe in the southwestern part of the United States, grandfather learned the traditional way of life from his people. One of the lessons was about man’s place in nature. He was taught that as humans we must be active caretakers. Yes, we need things that come from the landscape, but we must also give back to that same landscape in a way which promotes growth and health. Forests are self-healing as described above, but it takes many years for that branch to become brittle enough to break off in a wind storm. Sometimes young saplings are in competition with each other and will therefore grow up deformed and struggle. It can be our jobs as caretakers to help this process along.
(Grandfather Tom Brown – Berkley Books – 2004)
The Appalachian Mountain Club does just this when they have volunteer days to clean up areas of forest. Often they will pick an invasive species of plant and attempt to remove it from the area. The forest, and of course the hikers who use that trail may then enjoy a more beautiful and healthy environment.
-Nate
