Mother Trees and the Social Forest | Suzanne Simard

Forest Ecologist Suzanne Simard reveals that trees are part of a complex, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through underground mycorrhizal networks by which trees communicate their vitality and vulnerabilities, and share and exchange resources and support.
Simard's extraordinary research and tenacious efforts to raise awareness on the interconnectedness of forest systems, both above and below ground, has revolutionized our understanding of forest ecology. This increasing knowledge is driving a call for more sustainable practices in forestry and land management, ones that develop strategies based on the forest as a whole entity, not on trees as isolated individuals.
"Mother Trees and the Social Forest" was given on June 15, 02021 as part of Long Now's Seminar series. The series was started in 02003 to build a compelling body of ideas about long-term thinking from some of the world's leading thinkers. The Seminars take place in San Francisco and are curated and hosted by Stewart Brand. To follow the talks, you can:
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[@uitenboogaartrogier5195]

What a wonderful presentation. Thank you so much. I am looking for info, research and inspiration for my paper fiber fields here in Japan to make the plants/trees , soil , fiber and paper more healthy . So it can tell a positive inspiring story in the future. Very exciting, thanks

[@duncanweller1]

Just started reading a book by Peter Wohlleben, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate. I think this video is a wonderful compliment to the book. I'm an artist who has painted a lot of trees, usually in my children's picture books. Part of the reason for reading the book mentioned and to watch videos like this is that the new discoveries gives me ideas for possible books and the imagery for them. Thanks for the invaluable service you offer to world.

[@tugatgalut]

The Green Apple Tree (From 'Stories and Parables' by Stephan Attia) Once there was an author who had two apple trees in his garden; a Red Apples tree and a Green Apple Tree. The Author and his wife and kids only liked the Red Apples, thus every year they plucked the apples thereupon they ate some of them, while some of the red apples were stored for making juice, cakes and jam as long as the apples lasted. The red apples tasted so good that even the neighbors commented on it. Some of the neighbors gave the author vegetables in exchange for some red apples from his garden. When he asked his neighbors and friends whether they would like to get some of his green apples they said: 'No thanks, they don't taste as good as the red ones'. Thus for eighteen years no one touched the green apples. The author himself admitted that the green apples had a relatively dull taste in comparison with the red apples who had a succulent and rich taste. Each year the green apples fell from the trees at the end of the autumn, only to be consumed by desperate blackbirds, magpies, crows and ravens during the winter snow, when food was scarce. The author offered his green apples for free to strangers but folks were not interested to pluck them, thus he always felt sorry for the green apple tree. When he grumbled about it before his wife, she said to him: 'That's the way things are, there's not much that you can do'. The Author himself felt unfulfilled in life because he had to work hard for a living as a hired worker in a factory. The author wanted to be appreciated for the good he had to offer to humanity, but even though he published many books, he found no success. Despite his dedication to his spiritual gift he was neither rich nor famous. The author only sold less than a dozen books a year on average, hence his dream to be able to make a living from his literary works was shattered. He sat down one day in the garden on a blanket under the green apple tree. It was during the autumn. Morose and downhearted he scribbled down some poetry and ideas for a new story, until he fell into a deep sleep. A blackbird appeared in his dream. The blackbird perched upon a branch at the top of the Green Apple Tree and sang the most beautiful song a blackbird could produce. 'Thank you, it was beautiful,' said the Green Apple Tree to the blackbird. 'I wish I could be appreciated for my apples in this world'. 'But what's wrong with your apples?' asked the Blackbird. 'Nobody likes my apples' replied the Green Apple Tree. 'What are you talking about?' said the Blackbird 'We love your apples'. 'You only eat my apples when you are starving in the winter,' grumbled the Green Apple Tree. 'Your apples taste good' said the Blackbird 'Otherwise we wouldn't have eaten them at all, and besides without your wonderful apples we might have not survived the winter. We are really grateful for your apples and we appreciate them very much'. The Green Apple Tree was glad to hear that. 'I wish my owner could have appreciated me too,' said the Green Apple Tree. The Blackbird then said to the author: 'Why are you ignoring the Green Apple Tree?' The author explained the awkward situation to the blackbird thereupon he apologized. 'Have you tried to squeeze the Green Apples into juice?' asked the Blackbird. ' We've tried cake, we tried jam, we've tried it with salad and we tried to eat the green apples as snacks, but nobody really enjoys their taste; However it's true that we never tried to make an apple juice out of the green apples' 'Give it a try then' said the Blackbird. The author then woke up from the dream. At once he picked up all the Green Apples that were laid on the ground and he hurried to his house with two buckets filled up to the brim. At once he sliced the green apples and prepared the good parts of it for juicing. After he finished squeezing all of them he removed the foam from the juice and stored three glass bottles in the fridge. He then tasted the juice and was impressed. Amazed by this new discovery he exclaimed ' Good Heavens, this juice tastes better than the red ones'. Later that day when his kids returned from school and his wife returned from work he poured them a glass of cold pressed apple juice. 'That's Sweet and Nice' exclaimed the kids. The author's wife said 'Where did you buy this juice, I love it, it's wonderful, it's very subtle, pour me another glass please' The next day there was no more juice left in the fridge. Delighted by this unexpected success the author went out to his garden and gave the Green Apple Tree a big hug and said 'Thank you. Your apples make the best apple juice. From now on I will always harvest your wonderful apples' Thereupon the author plucked Green Apples from the tree and went inside the house to press more apple juice. Few days later the author fell asleep under the Green Apple Tree again. This time the Tree was talking to him in his dream. 'You can also find success' said the tree to the author. 'I doubt it very much,' grumbled the author. 'For many years I've been writing fairy tales, poetry, playwrights, polemics, philosophical and spiritual books, Aphorism, and even humor, but this generation doesn't appreciate me. They are mostly interested in crime and horror, which are not my favorite subjects, and even though I published some short stories with these subjects, I'm overlooked by Humanity. Nobody appreciates me.' The apple tree said:....

[@seandriz8048]

Thank you so much bless you as knowing ages it also forgets especially if in isn't profitable. not you. as a (whole) we know it to be true when it isn't if viewed correctly

[@culbinator]

Suzanne you are doing the Lords work. This is super important information. I’ve been wondering if it’s time to introduce the trees of the Sonoran Desert (mesquite, Palo Verde and Ironwood) throughout central and southern California. If any smart people out there have an opinion on that I would be very welcome to hear your opinions. This video is incredible.

[@David_A._Ream]

We should seriously consider building homes with 3D printers instead of trees. Also our forest need gardening to help discourage devastating fires, currently on display in the West.

[@seandriz8048]

so this in bacteria is inherited resistance which is energy to energy for all from all

[@seandriz8048]

oh man it's always the hair, antenna, cord, channel, tubes

[@StephanieSoressi]

Has Judi Dench seen this?

[@milesteg8627]

Why can't old growth forests still retain sentience?

[@seandriz8048]

more true is you don't know how. the mind tells a story it doesn't care about truth. if you accept than you are right