Age Quote by Bill Mollison
“Brambles, in particular, protect and nourish young fruit trees, and on farms bramble clumps (blackberry or one of its related cultivars) can be used to exclude deer and cattle from newly set trees. As the trees (apple, quince, plum, citrus, fig) age, and the brambles are shaded out, hoofed animals come to eat fallen fruit, and the mature trees (7 plus years old) are sufficiently hardy to withstand browsing. Our forest ancestors may well have followed some such sequences for orchard evolution, assisted by indigenous birds and mammals.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Permaculture: A Designers' Manual, Bill Mollison, 1988
Brambles serve as protective nurse plants for young fruit trees, later yielding to mature trees that can resist wildlife browsing, a pattern observed in natural forest orchards.
In simple terms: Brambles protect young trees, then mature trees survive on their own.
Key Takeaway
Use nurse plants early, then let trees mature naturally.
Themes
sustainability
agroecology
forest gardening
Mood
pragmatic
reflective
Type
practical
educational
When to use this quote
- planting young orchards
- designing sustainable farms
- managing wildlife
- restoring natural ecosystems
Key Concepts
nurse plants
succession
biodiversity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance protective benefits with potential invasiveness?
- What other native plants could serve similar nurse roles?
A Different Perspective
If brambles become invasive, they may outcompete desired crops.
