Sharon Rose Living Simply
Trees for Tomorrow
Trees are the unsung heroes of our planet. Giving oxygen enriched air, storing carbon, providing shade, shelter and habitats for countless creatures, giving harvests of fruits, nuts, medicines, timber products; and the best garden nutrient with their leaf litter, trees can help deter fire and also increase rainfall!
The "Standing Ones" (in Native American culture), without a voice of their own, but housing an incredible intelligence (see 'The Secret Life of Tree'), they're a natural and renewable resource.
A great way to learn about agroforestry is to attend a 'Master Tree Growers' Course. Completing mine in 2011 gave more confidence in designing the tree features of my Family Homestead. Here is the link to Australian Agroforestry
Researching and planning before planting trees are essential; so the trees can live long and benefit all. We urgently need to rethink, plan and act to reduce temperatures, provide clean air and habitats for the many creatures we share the planet with.
Nature cannot do a lot if all her tools are taken away
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Trees, my heroes.
Trees increase rainfall from bacterial cells and other particles channelled from the leaves, into the atmosphere. They recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen via photosynthesis. Trees also give off beneficial molecules as Russian biochemist, Dr Tonkin, found in 1928: Some trees including Eucalyptus, oaks and pine, give off phytoncides or terpenes, also called VOCs. These molecules are beneficial for trees as well as humans and are part of the benefits of 'Forest Bathing'.
These are my favorite trees, the family chestnut trees now over 100 years old, providing cool shade in summer and a bountiful harvest of gluten free nutritious nuts in autumn. Since childhood there were many weeks spent under their branches collecting the harvest.
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Evergreen Trees
Like the description, evergreens don't lose their leaves all in one go, but gradually as they age, and are replaced, like our skin cells. Evergreens include eucalyptus trees, pines, cypress, olives, citrus and bay trees. They all have different growing requirements, sizes and shapes so like getting a pet; please research first to ensure the tree will happily and healthily belong where you want to plant it. Consider also that the leaves will provide a year round screen or view/sunblock. Great if this is the intention!
This beautiful cork oak is an evergreen - unlike many other oaks. This particular tree is about 100 years old and a favorite cool place in summer! Traditionally the bark is used for its cork, but it is also its cork which gives it a fire retardant property.
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Deciduous Trees
These are trees which drop their leaves in autumn and include many fruit and nut trees originally from the northern hemisphere. For optimum growth, plants need to have a similar climate to their original habitat, although we can create microclimates such as using heat radiating from a fence or shade from buildings. The autumn harvest of leaf mulch from these trees gives the best garden nutrient. Many deciduous trees are also fire retardant trees. Research is needed to determine which trees will work for you and your fire plan.
Shade under deciduous trees can be up to 25 degrees cooler than the surrounding air temperature! A few years ago the south west was without electricity in high summer when the grid was overloaded with air conditioning units turned on at the same time as people returned home from work. Staying in Busselton with Mum at the time, to cool off, my stepdad simply went out and sat under a tree :) Nature had everything perfectly planned from the start. No batteries needed!
My fruit orchard, earliest plantings now 10 years old, pictured flowering in early spring, is made up of all deciduous trees
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Timber for Tomorrow
Traditional Native American culture has a philosophy of the Honorable Harvest. Basically, only taking what you need; giving back what you take (replanting) and listening to make sure it's ok to take. Sometimes there's a reason why that particular tree needs to stay and nature sees the overall picture, not just our angle. Trees take awhile to grow but as a renewable resource for building, furniture and so many other uses, they save much energy taken or used in producing metals and can prevent environmental damage humanity creates with short term replacements such as plastics :(
This Cedar tree was planted too close to buildings so needed to be felled. Cedar Timber is resistant to insect damage and rot so is a great timber to use in and around buildings. Portable mills like this Lucas mill (designed by a Victorian farmer), enable the mill to be brought to the log; reducing the amount of timber that was simply burnt because it was not possible to bring the log to a mill. Always research your timber first to find its use and check with an experienced miller to ensure the tree is suitable for milling.
