I recently listened to a PBS broadcast of the Fresh Air program. It featured the work of Susanne Simard, a researcher and professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia.
Her research has shown a mutual symbiotic relationship among trees. Trees are interconnected through their root system. A certain fungi grows on their root system this fungi feed nutrients from one tree to another. The fungi connect trees of various species, not just oak to oak, or maple to maple, but it connects oaks and maples to other species such as sycamore or birch. She has discovered that trees not only feed each other, but they have a mutual defense system that warns of invading diseases. Trees can assist in the healing of other trees.
When clear-cutting forests, lumber companies would replant seedlings, all of the same species. You may have seen this where lumber has been harvested, the company has replanted rows of only pine or fir. They discovered these plantings did not grow as well as expected, but when other species were introduced the pines and furs improved. Trees do better in diversity than when isolated with their own species. In fact, isolation is more likely to spread disease among trees.
Large, old trees help younger trees grow by through this system of sharing nutrients. When older trees start to die they give up stored carbon to the younger ones. They leave an inheritance to the younger generation.
What an impressive picture of fellowship, communion, and mutual care. Humans like trees grow when in communion with others, loving and caring for one another, and sharing burdens. Living in isolation cannot enhance spiritual or emotional growth.
The more we imitate trees the better we will be.
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