Hi i'm writing this text in orden to explain a client why is not a good idea to have an equal distances between plants.
I'm not sure if everything i'm saying is ok. So what do.you think. Is there something You would add and correct?
The Spatial Distribution of Plants in a Food Forest
In nature, every forest goes through a process called ecological succession.
Ecological succession is the process by which an ecosystem evolves from an initial state, known as the pioneer phase, until it reaches a mature ecosystem, called the climax phase.
One of the fundamental strategies in food forest design is to mimic the structures and dynamics of an intermediate stage of succession that we could call a mature secondary forest or young climax forest.
Why?
At this stage, the forest achieves the highest energy efficiency (Odum), the greatest net primary productivity, and the highest resilience.
This point represents the best balance between order and disorder, which drives self-organization, natural regeneration, and a more efficient energy flow.
What is mimicked from this stage?
Vertical stratification of species, functional diversity, mutualistic relationships, succession, spatial patterns, etc.
Spatial Distribution of Plants
In a real forest, plants do not grow at equal or symmetrical distances.
When all plants are placed at the same distance and at the same time, the logic of layers (strata) and temporal succession is ignored.
Instead of fostering cooperation between plants, this creates uniform and simultaneous competition for light, nutrients, and water.
It reduces the possibilities for functional associations.
There is no use of vertical or underground space.
The regular grid makes the system more vulnerable to pests and diseases, because spatial homogeneity favors their spread, whereas irregular patterns hinder the expansion of threats.
Designing in a grid ignores the characteristics of the terrain, breaking natural flows and reducing ecological resilience.
A good design adapts to the land, it does not impose a geometric pattern from paper.
The grid is a static and artificial pattern, and in food forest design what is sought is dynamism, complementarity, succession, cooperation among species, and adaptation to the landscape.
Grid design may work in the short term, but it is ecologically inefficient, weak against disturbances, and requires more management and external inputs.