Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't Trouble in the Food Forest
Sep 5, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Lilly Anderson-Messec, a native plant ecologist, delves into the intricacies of permaculture and invasion biology. She explores the gaps in ecological education that lead to denial of invasion science and highlights the importance of native ecosystems. Lilly criticizes the consumerist tendencies shaping plant choices and argues for a focus on local knowledge and foraging. She warns against the long-term ecological harm posed by non-natives, urging a return to cultivating native foods that have rich ethnobotanical histories.
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Work With Local Species First
- Do forage and work with species that already occur in your region instead of recreating ecosystems.
- Learn sustainable harvest areas and let native plants supply food without unnecessary planting.
Find Native Functional Equivalents
- Research native functional equivalents before buying exotic plants and collect local seed when possible.
- Identify native nitrogen-fixers or medicinal analogs and use local sources to cut cost and ecological risk.
Native Means Functional Relationships
- 'Native' is about functional relationships and shared evolutionary history, not only time since arrival.
- Nearby range expansions can retain checks and balances that true continental introductions lack.
