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Category Archives: Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration
In Search Of
I average one day every week going over my collection of trees. If you were to see me do this, it appears I am wandering around lost and looking for something. I am. I am evaluating the structure of the … Continue reading
Smooshed Fruit: Blackhaw and Medlar
Recently while talking to the power line vegetation control folks at my farm, one of them said to me, “It must be really satisfying to know you planted a forest.” I was very fortunate to be at the right time … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Diversity Found
Tagged seeds, ecology, agroforestry, medlar, blackhaw viburnum, fruit farm, wild fruits, woody plants, fruit orchard
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Heading North on the Persimmon Highway
Not much is known about the American persimmon in its northern reaches. The term northern has both a subjective and objective value to it. Objective is based on the chromosome count for the northern ‘race’ and degree hours above 50 … Continue reading
Hog Peanut: Subterranean Tuber Becomes Aerial Bean
While harvesting American hazelnuts on my farm near the electric line right of way, I discovered the hog peanut. I pulled up on the vine and found several larger than average tubers (dime sized) connected on a string. I had … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Diversity Found
Tagged agriculture, biological enrichment, crop-diversity, ecology, edible, garden, hog peanut, nitrogen fixation, seeds, tuber-crop
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The Species Pear Balancing Act On the Move
If you were to take a peak into the secret life of pears, you will find treasures hidden in places that are not easily accesible. These are not “escaped” pears but subspecies that someone in the taxonomic botanical world has … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration
Tagged agriculture, ecology, food, gardening, nature, Pyrus pyraster, seeds, wild pear
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The Unstoppable Power of Bamboo
When I lived in town with my family, I had a jogging route part of which was on a brick road on a steep hill. On the corner was a beautifully landscaped home of many fruits and ornamentals including a … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature
Tagged agroforestry, bamboo, bamboo sprouts, carbon sequestration, edible bamboo, perennial agriculture, runner bamboo, tree crops, two-story-agriculture
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Paulownia: Grow Your Own Home-It Zooms
One of my first acquaintances in the tree crop arena was a research technician in the pharmaceutical industry. He was very passionate about growing his own firewood. This was in an era when the hybrid-popular market was in full swing … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature
Tagged agriculture, ecology, Empress tree, farming, lumber, Paulownia, sustainability, timber, tree crops, wood
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Rediscovered Fruit: The Cornelian Cherry
On a camping trip when I was in high school I ate a bunch of bunchberries, Cornus canadensis. It is a common groundcover found in the northern woods of Michigan. The edible wild book that I had said they would … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration
Tagged agriculture, Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, ecology, edible dogwood, fruit
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Wood is Good: American Chestnut
In my senior year in college, I was employed as a gardener for a home that was near a nature reserve in the city. From time to time, I would cross the street with a wheelbarrow full of spoiled apples harvested … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration, Miracles of Nature
Tagged American chestnut, Castanea dentata, chestnut tables, ecology, Janka, timber crops, Wood quality
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Finding Mulberry: Morus rubra
I like mulberries and everything about them. It doesn’t matter what type they are. I made the selection Lavender Life red mulberry based on heavy fruit yields. It was not based on percentage of how much it may or may … Continue reading
Posted in Diversity Found, Ecology-Biodiversity-Integration
Tagged agriculture, ecology, farming, Morus rubra, mulberry, red mulberry, seed selections
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