{"id":256,"date":"2019-10-05T15:28:01","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T13:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plentiful-lands.com\/?p=256"},"modified":"2022-06-18T12:56:32","modified_gmt":"2022-06-18T10:56:32","slug":"havens-of-biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plentiful-lands.com\/havens-of-biodiversity\/","title":{"rendered":"Havens Of Biodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

exploring what apple plantations have to offer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I have spent two weeks working on an apple plantation<\/a>. As the type of work there varies a lot from season to season, I will keep working there occasionally. In this way, I will learn more in depth about the of growing apples, those fabulous fruits. But even in these two weeks, I got to know the ground, the trees, the people and the nature there quite well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is no wonder I did… When you are alert to your surroundings, there is a treasure of experience and wisdom to absorb! As I announced in my last article, I wanted to find out whether wildlife still thrives on this farm. Apple plantations are by definition monocultures. A monoculture is a field on which year after year, the same crop is growing. Since apple trees reach an age of up to 30 years, there is no possibility of crop rotation (growing different crops year after year). But after observing and working in it, I wouldn’t want to call this plantation a monoculture anymore. Let me show you around the plantations and its many inhabitants! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First,<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

admire the hedges, shrubs and trees bordering the plantations. These “wild” spots are very popular among the birds. In spring, they can nest here and in autumn, they can feed on the berries and leftover apples. Between the blocks of different apple varieties, there are alleys of birches interrupting the “monoculture” of apples. There are nesting boxes hanging on the trees. On the ground, mounds of stones inviting reptiles and insects to rest. Special insect nests provide a habitat for bees, wasps and other insects. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Wild berries gracing the fences of the plantation. These are also a source of food for birds.
Photo by Naomi Bosch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Follow me…<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

to the meadows abundant in all kinds of plant species. Here, bees find a source of food when the apple blossoms are long gone. Bees’ honey is by no means only a by-product of apple orchards. Without the bees pollinating the flowers in spring, there would be little, if any apples at all, to harvest in autumn. For this reason, farmers and beekeepers collaborate. Beekeepers “harvest” delicious honey from the blooming trees and meadows, and farmers get good and healthy fruit yields. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Can you spot the beehives behind this blooming meadow?
Photo by Naomi Bosch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Then,<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

let’s look at the ground. Between the rows of apple trees, an array of plant species is growing, from different kinds of grass (there is no such thing as one “grass” species!), herbs and flowers. These lawns are mown several times a year. The mown grass, along with cut-off branches, is left in the plantations as mulch, thus fertilizing the soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n