Human-Landscape symbiosis: the importance of creating an active relationship with and spreading native plants and seeds through the landscapes we live in.

This might be a lengthy title, but this is something that I personally have a great passion for; as I believe this is one of the most important aspects of living symbiotically with landscapes as a human creature.

Michael Kennedy Ridge Harvesting Seeds

I have only recently begun the practice of what I’ve come to call “Human-Landscape Symbiosis”, which is a lengthy term to summarize that humans need to re-engage and symbiotically exist with each of our surrounding ecosystems. I started gradually practicing this idea when I was around 20 years old after following and learning from 2 full-time stewards living off horse back and mobile shelters on Instagram:

@mountainmanders

@michaelkennedyridge

Each of these unique individuals had taken it upon themselves to devote their live’s works to reciprocating and growing with the ecosystems around them; creating lifestyles and patterns of living that revolve around wild foods, medicines, and materials. Mountainmanders now lives a more stationary version of this lifestyle- in an off grid site a with a canvas wall tent setup.

Over my years of admiring these two developed and integrated characters, I began to yearn for the same lifestyle; the same purpose; the same reciprocity and spreading of abundance in the ecosystems and forests I occupied. I had always been a landscaper and a farmer growing up; working while traveling to make decent money and food… but this was a step far beyond what I was used to. This was not only manipulating a field or a plot to grow what you wanted- this was following and co-creating with the patterns of what already grows there; what has been growing for thousands and thousands of years, much of which actually thrives with care or harvest from humans… and importantly, was stewarded by indigenous cultures and tribes through their seasonal nomadism.

The states of the Western Coast of the U.S are covered in captivating, unique, diverse mixes of wild foods, medicines, materials, flowers, trees, and animals… all of them filling in niche spots through the landscapes and constantly evolving with and shaping each other. We humans have the same potential to participate in that pattern and that process- through active participation and reciprocity. The indigenous tribes and communities that lived and thrived on this continent; along with those of almost every other continent; have been profoundly aware of and attune with these patterns. And hundreds if not thousands of years of knowledge and wild-tended gardens and places of importance and sacred wisdom & reflection and respect for all other souls that co-existed in the lands they shared were passed on from generation to generation- as far back as their origins predate. To this day many of these indigenous communities keep these generational, stewardship, and spiritual practices alive.

This sacred bond between life and human beings is one that we MUST revive within our cultures and communities if we want amy chance of remaining here through the coming intensities of shifting weather patterns, desertification, poorly designed infrastructure, and increasing lack of available nutrient-containing food. And it all starts with this original concept: human-landscape symbiosis. The active participation in the spread and growth of all other species that surround us. Every single piece of life that we aid and nurture into growth abe expanded life reciprocates either us or other living beings around us. Every seed we collect and plant is the beginning of a journey. Not only the journey we witness as we see this source of life grow and spread and thrive, but the journey of all other life that interacts with it; exponentially chaining and connecting and expanding and evolving. And over time even the very land and soil and rocks themselves become intertwined with all of the infinite microbiomes and unique microclimates ebbing and flowing through this evolution.

And, even more importantly, the LACK of this practice and respect… leads to the exact opposite phenomenon. You see, life is generally a slow-moving and complex process that grows with time. And the more life we remove; the faster we remove it… the more time it takes for life to return. If we pollute or contaminate or toxify that life it takes even longer. It might not seem that bad removing a single field or a square of forest… but over time, that removal of life adds up. And the complex evolution that grew with that life’s maturing also begins to disappear. Without a counter-energy; a practice that actively brings life back into those systems and prioritizes the observation & aid of those evolutions that grow with it… the earth becomes barren and weathered and easily destroyed. And the rate of development across the world has already crossed that threshold of the giving vrs taking of life. Flash floods in the Eastern U.S run rampant through cities and towns covered with mostly concrete, asphalt, and barren grass or dirt squares. The west remains ravaged by wildfires caused by poor stewardship and abuse of the land- carelessly removing top soil and debris instead of doing controlled burns, introduction of rampantly invasive and flammable species, cities and towns that create heat islands that literally change where rain and clouds will form… We MUST create, recreate, expand, and introduce communities and nomadic groups and indigenous tribes that actively re-integrate life and prioritize the continuation of this world’s constantly expanding wonders. If we do not… I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, We. Will not. Make it. That’s not to say that all hope is lost or that everything’s dark and doomed for destruction… but it’s a real-time reality check. We have no more time to simply survive in out political and socio-economic circumstances. So wherever you are, whatever you do, CREATE AND GROW literally anything you can- evolve it, learn with it, and most importantly GET PEOPLE TOGETHER! But amidst gathering and organizing, I have learned from years and years of exploring different intentional communities, farms, homesteads…. You all MUST remain peaceful and communicative with each other. Even more importantly than the work itself- learn to regulate your nervous systems, share your emotions, cry together, dance together, sing together, ENJOY each other. Any organization that goes in any other direction will, I guarantee, will end in failure.

If you are interested in doing any of this, please feel free to contact me; I’ll give advice or help in any way I can :)

I’ll be adding more and more blogs and videos showing you all techniques and details about how to go about regenerating and stewarding land as well :D

Keep maintaining the light and your peace, and good luck to all of you <3

-Dylan H. Harlow