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--0000000000001e112005a5104130 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The Background: *Nitrogen is a critical limiting element for plant growth and production. It is a major component of chlorophyll, the most important pigment needed for photosynthesis, as well as amino acids, the key building blocks of proteins. It is also found in other important biomolecules, such as ATP and nucleic acids. Even though it is one of the most abundant elements (predominately in the form of nitrogen gas (N2) in the Earth=E2=80=99s atmo= sphere), plants can only utilize reduced forms of this element. Plants acquire these forms of =E2=80=9Ccombined=E2=80=9D nitrogen by: 1) the addition of ammonia= and/or nitrate fertilizer (from the Haber-Bosch process) or manure to soil, 2) the release of these compounds during organic matter decomposition, 3) the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into the compounds by natural processes, such as lightning, and 4) biological nitrogen fixation (Vance 2001). <* https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/biological-nitrogen-fixat= ion-23570419/ > Cover-cropping with legumes to fix nitrogen is an old trick in agriculture. Beyond peas etc, there are perennial shrubs that also harbour N-fixing bacteria. Some of these shrubs also provide an excellent source of nutrition for humans. The ag/gardening method known as permaculture advocates the planting of these nitrogen fixers as a way to promote soil health via nitrogen fixation, while also providing a yield for humans. (The same can be said with black/honey locust, which provide a direct yield of timber rather than food). Planted into a disturbed area, soil fertility can be improved. Co-planted with over-story orchard trees, these shrubs are toted to improve soil, improve orchard yield, offer a secondary crop, and add biodiversity. Et cetera. Autumn olive (Eleagnus umbellata) is one of these shrubs. A Google search will reveal this plant is simultaneously revered and detested, depending on the camp of the author. The camp of those that revere it do so for the ag-related reasons given above. The other camp maintains it does more harm than good due to its invasiveness. Autumn olive is productive (there is a field nearby we harvest from and I put frozen berries on evening cereal snack, they are quite delicious and easy pickin'), and it is also an invasive in some areas. It is prohibited in Alberta, for example, but not in Nova Scotia <https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/WControl.htm> The idea of "invasive" seems to be coming under increased scrutiny, at least in some forums I frequent. At the same time, the problems accredited to introduced species have never been more pronounced. At uni, in the environmental science program, we poopooed on introduced species as a mantra. Now, as an owner-operator of a new small nursery focused on edible, native and useful perennials, I am forced to reconsider these problematic definitions. When deciding what to propagate, we ask such questions as 1) can a native species do this job? 2) is there a harm in planting this species? 3) do the benefits of this species outweigh the harms? It is a challenging standard to maintain. How do you define native? Native to your backyard? Your county? Province, bioregion, continent? How do you determine invasiveness? Can a plant be invasive *and* native? If it is already present in your landscape (as with autumn olive and black locust here), is there any harm in propagating it? How do we balance harm and yield? Some permaculturalists completely shun the idea of invasives, and plant without consideration. This of course is ridiculous; but equally ridiculous is the shunning of non-native species. We can all agree that humans cannot be sustained on native species alone, and so concessions must be made. Planting anything non-native (however you define it) will occupy a space where a native plant could live, which is not ecologically optimal (that is, until you bring the harm done by outsourcing foodstuffs). This morning's example: Wolf willow (Eleagnus commutata - not a willow) is, like autumn olive, a nitrogen fixer. It is not as widely vilified, but it may have the same potential to fill out a space and expand, given its growth habit. However, unlike autumn olive, this plant is native to North America - the Prairies west to Alaska, with an apparently isolated population in Quebec. But it is *not native *to Windsor, nor Nova Scotia, nor even the Maritimes. So, to sell or not to sell? Ultimately, since these plants are not controlled in this jurisdiction, I know the decision whether to propagate lies with me and my partner. But I respect this community and want to be on the right side of science whenever possible and to do right by the natural world, and admit that I don't know everything there is to know about this stuff. There are certainly people in this forum that know more than me about invasives, botany, agriculture, and importantly, their intersection. This email is almost just me venting my frustration about having to make these decisions, which I do not take lightly. All opinions will be considered and I thank you muchly in advance if you take the time to write. If you wish to reach out privately, feel free to do so. Sincerely, *Dave in Curry's Corner* David Simpson (902) 580 8007 david.sonsimp@gmail.com --0000000000001e112005a5104130 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div>The Background:</div><div><br></div><div><i>Nitrogen = is a critical limiting element for plant growth and production. It is a maj= or component of chlorophyll, the most important pigment needed for photosyn= thesis, as well as amino acids, the key building blocks of proteins. It is = also found in other important biomolecules, such as ATP and nucleic acids. = Even though it is one of the most abundant elements (predominately in the f= orm of nitrogen gas (N2) in the Earth=E2=80=99s atmosphere), plants can onl= y utilize reduced forms of this element. Plants acquire these forms of =E2= =80=9Ccombined=E2=80=9D nitrogen by: 1) the addition of ammonia and/or nitr= ate fertilizer (from the Haber-Bosch process) or manure to soil, 2) the rel= ease of these compounds during organic matter decomposition, 3) the convers= ion of atmospheric nitrogen into the compounds by natural processes, such a= s lightning, and 4) <b>biological nitrogen fixation </b>(Vance 2001). <<= /i><a href=3D"https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/biological-= nitrogen-fixation-23570419/">https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/libr= ary/biological-nitrogen-fixation-23570419/</a>><br></div><div><br></div>= <div>Cover-cropping with legumes to fix nitrogen is an old trick in agricul= ture. Beyond peas etc, there are perennial shrubs that also harbour N-fixin= g bacteria. Some of these shrubs also provide an excellent source of nutrit= ion for humans. The ag/gardening method known as permaculture advocates the= planting of these nitrogen f