The dew has just dissipated, chickadees are fighting over a piece of branch with an annoying magpie, the sun opens an eye to the distance and noise on the rocky path that leads to the entrance of the Knights’ plot is heard. In the edible forest, astonishment reigns. The venerable of the canopy wonder about the arrival of 3 dump trucks covered with green plastic and the link with the human effervescence that is active in front of them. A commodity as green as plastic has come down from the trucks and there begins the surprise. These “mother trees” which transmit to the youngest the wisdom and food essential to their growth see coming to them small trees with small trunks from which tender leaves vigorously stir while there is no breath of wind for leagues around. Trees that seem to move alone while dodelinating from the ridge with the entire team of the estate protecting them from the gaze, and seeming to push them on wheeled trays. It was to scratch the bark several times to understand something.

Suddenly all the trees freeze and each one ensures that they are placed on the ground, without damaging the potting soil that protects the roots. Everyone hopes that this precious arrival will give an abundance of gourmet flowers and juicy fruits within the edible forest.

Apple trees, peach trees, apricot trees, raspberries, medlars, pear trees, sea buckthorn trees, cherry trees, plum trees, quince trees, fig trees, vines, melliferous plants and many others make their remarkable entrance on the plot of land preserved from pesticides. The venerable of the canopy already know that once planted, these new shrubs and shrubs will be able to count on fungi, because the mycelium loves to create contact between plants, it establishes a link between the trees of the young edible forest and thus sets up a solidarity network located very deep in the ground: “Too much carbon, not enough light, a little pain in the left branch, great stress due to climate change”, the world of trees talks to each other, observes each other, helps each other. Some trees tend to a certain autonomy such as walnut trees, it is a magnificent fruit tree, but it likes to be away from others, it repels intruders by its juglon produced by its leaves, but it tolerates well the goat’s beard and forget-me-nots.

Gardeners with little care will decorate the soil with dwarf white clover, it is an excellent green manure that will suit young fruit trees. A few wild strawberry plants, a few climbing roses are planted here and there, then in spring will be planted edible flowers such as pineapple sage, borage, begonia, violet, nasturtium and agastache a perennial plant with shimmering flowering to give the whole a touch of country garden. One day soon, the edible forest will be highly coveted by visitors and members of the Chevaliers de l’Astrée, it will be the taste place of the department not to be missed. Plan your crates, wicker baskets to garnish them with fruits and flowers.

Tonight, the venerable trees are about to have a strange and wonderful dream: “They are everywhere, they are everywhere, thousands of pollinating insects gorge themselves on the nectar of apricot blossoms, apple trees. The sphinxes of the Euphorbia fly away leaving behind them a cloud of light or darker powder depending on the foraged flower, further the bees with hind legs heavy with pollen cross the golden ketones themselves covered with pollen. From the top of their top, they hear a few sniffles, they notice hands wiping away tears, breasts that swell with air in a jerky way and then childish smiles on the faces of gardeners. All these buzzes, all this spring activity make them happy quite simply, nature is reborn. »