THOUGHTS ON BLACK LOCUST
I’ve always found that a lot of learning means unlearning first and then relearning. Lately it seems I have so much unlearning to do that I’m just gonna try and settle into my own undoing instead of rushing to rebuild myself again. I interact more with plants than people, so a lot of what I unlearn and relearn is through them. Black Locust trees are labeled in Maine as an invasive species. I have always been a rule follower. I have always trusted science - and the language of science -especially ecology. I didn’t often question my teachers or their teachers. I used to have such a clear and safe red line drawn between native and invasive. I would not think twice about picking and eating Black Locust blossoms - but I would not consider planting them - not on my land - until this year. After spending the last ten or so years working with this tree (meaning eating its flowers, using its wood, and observing it) I’ve seen nothing about it that resembles an invader (here). I see it doing a lot of the heavy work and doing it with gifts to spare. I see it growing mainly in places that we have disturbed and left bare. It grows in soils that most other plants will not tolerate. It holds that soil and rebuilds it and fixes nitrogen there until other plants can join it. It captures immense amounts of carbon and turns it into immense amounts of food for pollinators and us - and the fastest growing high quality firewood - and rot resistant wood for tools handles, bows, and fences. I’ve not seen it invade anywhere that anything else would want or be able to live. It does its work in those barren places until it’s work is done and then makes space for others to do theirs. Who else is going to do that work? I can’t bring a place that we’ve scraped to the bone back to life like that - can you?
••Bite-sized caption••: Canned local chicken + heaps of Black Locust blossoms, dill, green onion and radish - dressed in wild herb vinaigrette. Served on mustard green leaves. At least two days of almost free meals in about 15 minutes really hits the spot on these hustle days of spring.
#endthewaronweeds #enddominatorculture #decolonizeyourdiet