“Patterns in nature are the essence of wisdom.” ~ Dennis Prager
A landscape and a farm is not just a collection of different ‘elements’, but a whole ecosystem with complex patterns, relationships and cycles of life that are constantly changing.
Patterns and cycles in nature move in continuous loops. Natural ecosystems try to achieve maximum diversity, balance, and health. We should see the ‘whole’ and the patterns within, rather than the individual elements as separate entities.
Life is not entropic. Life compounds life. A healthy natural ecosystem is greater than the sum of its parts and becomes more complex over time!
Nature abhors bare ground! Plant succession repairs disturbances over time in space in 3 dimensions. Nature moves towards maximum biodiversity starting below the soil, on the soil, and above the soil right up to the tree canopy.
There are too many patterns in nature to understand, but here is a start. The following is like looking through different windows into the same room.
Time Plant Succession. After a disturbance, nature covers any bare ground with ‘weeds’, which are really nature’s pioneer plants that quickly protect the soil from the sun, erosion and moisture loss. They break up the soil with tough roots that drill down to allow water penetration. This work enables the next level of succession, moving eventually, toward a mature complex ecosystem within the biome.
In brittle or dry environments, grasses need to be grazed as the microbes in ruminants’ stomachs are part of the nutrient cycle. There also needs to be rest from grazing for long periods to allow grasses to recover. In brittle environments, grasses shouldn’t be overgrazed or over-rested. In non-brittle or moist environments, rest from grazing allows succession. Microbes in moist soils are part of the nutrient cycle. Successional stages:
Plant succession stages over time:-
Bare ground as a result of disturbance.
> Annual grasses and forbs (weeds). 1-2 years .
> Perennial grasses, forbs and brambles. 2-5 years
> Young Forest. 3-30 years
> Mature Forest. 30-100+ years.
This is within the greater holistic context. With animals integrated into the land in drier climatic regions, a mature ecosystem can be a grassland savannah.
Space. Nature moves into 3 dimensions. There can be up to seven layers in a natural forest.
Root layer in the soil
Ground cover layer
Herb layer
Bush layer
Climbing layer
Understory tree layer
Canopy tree layer
You can also add all microbial life in the soil, fungi, insects, birds, and animals that evolved in symbiotic relationships with plants in the ‘whole’.
Water or a pond is a supporting layer for biodiversity.
Plants form ‘guilds’ or collaborative communities with other plants, each performing a different function in the ecosystem. Mono-crops are unnatural. Plants are not isolated beings, but live in groups in nature. Companion planting considers the roles of plants in the guild, not just their appearance. In nature, plants often have multiple roles. One of them is aesthetics, which helps attract pollinators to the guild. Diversity and edges are valuable. Edges are where two worlds meet and have the most variety and activity.
Some functions of guild plants are:
Keystone species: Fruit trees that produce food for humans and animals, and increase biodiversity. Examples: crab apple, fig, mulberry, apricot.
Ground cover: Plants that protect the soil from erosion and evaporation, and create a cool microclimate. Examples: strawberries, groundnuts, clover (nitrogen-fixing), chickweed, gallium.
Dynamic nutrient accumulators: Fast-growing plants with deep roots that bring nutrients to the surface and make mulch with their leaves. Examples: mullen, comfrey.
Nitrogen fixers: Plants that have a symbiotic relationship with microbes that make nitrogen available for plant roots. Examples: legumes, clover, alfalfa, peas, beans, sea buckthorn.
Pollinator attractors: Plants that have flowers and produce pollen for insects throughout the year.
Aromatic confusers: Plants that have strong smells that confuse pests. Examples: herbs, mint, sage, rosemary, dill, parsley, oregano, onions, garlic, etc.
It is important to have a balance between predators and 'pests'. More diversity means more balance and health. Avoid monocultures.
Complex vs complicated systems: Nature is a complex system. It has many elements that interact, but if one element changes or disappears, the system can adapt and continue. However, that change will affect the rest of the system in ways that may be hard to predict. Sometimes these effects can be positive (disturbance), but often they are negative for the whole system. When we make decisions and monitor our system, we must consider the possible effects on the whole.
Feedback Loops. Nature uses feedback loops to adjust its response to change. To monitor health, we need to observe the results of our actions and natural events. The soil surface can show us the health of the ecosystem and the effects of our actions. We should use a feedback loop to monitor it. We should also question our decisions and learn from our mistakes as we build a relationship with the land and understand its context. We should apply our learning and observations to improve our management decisions. We can use the 4 ecosystem processes as indicators of health. Plan - Monitor - Control - Replan.
Cycles of Life, Death, and Life. Nature works in cycles and loops, with no beginning or end. Waste is always a resource. Death fuels life! Dead plants and animals feed the microbes that nourish other plants. Composting and chopping and dropping recycle the nutrients. The problem can be the solution if we look carefully. We use waste as a resource and close the loop. If we take away plant and grass cuttings, we deplete the resource that feeds the next generation of plants and animals. This reduces the need for chemicals and external inputs. Mulch, mulch, mulch.
A garden is not a wild forest, but a system that you can manage according to your needs and context. However, you should also respect the natural forces that shape your garden’s ecosystem and design for space and time. Think of the functions and relationships in your system, not just the elements.
If you want to learn more about how to create a garden that attracts wildlife, you can read this book:
Rewild Your Garden: Create a Haven for Birds, Bees and Butterflies by Frances Tophill
You can also check out these agricultural models that are inspired by nature’s patterns: See 6.3.4.4 Principles page on this website
6 principles of Soil health
3 Rules of Adaptive Stewardship
4 Ecosystem Processes
4 Key Insights for soil health
Visit www.go-wild.co for more information.