posted 9 years ago
In permie books, etc, I often hear something like this. "Look at the forest, or look at the giant sequoias, or the Redwoods. They grew without any tilling, fertilization, or irrigation! The same method will grow great food!"
Now, I am a proponent of low or no till farming, deep mulch, etc.
However, I think the quote above embodies a big mistake. If you planted a tomato next to a sequoia, it would not grow as tall. In fact, it might not grow at all. Just because a certain soil can grow giant trees does not mean that it will grow annual ruderal plants, perennial forbs, or orchard trees. Forest ecosystems are not very good models for us. Most of our crop species are mid succession. In fact, "forest gardens" are never actually based on a forest, since they are usually full of mid succession, open woodland and shrubland species.
Rant over.
Does anybody else feel this way? I think a lot of permaculture folks get a bit too starry eyed about this sort of thing.