5/5 In #Languodoc and #Italy, #HolmOaks also live in close association with #Truffles, which thrive between the roots of the trees, and are of course foraged by #pigs, which also, I imagine, eat the #Acorns. Another great example of #AgroEcology #Agroforestry, positive, symbiotic relations between plants, animals, humans that have evolved over time. Found this article really informative but am not an expert on this at all - if anyone knows more, please do add!

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258149097_Resilience_of_Sweet_Chestnut_and_Truffle_Holm-Oak_Rural_Forests_in_Languedoc-Roussillon_France_Roles_of_Social-Ecological_Legacies_Domestication_and_Innovations

4/x The reason #HolmOaks are so drought resilient is that they are, of course, indigenous to the #Mediterranean where holm oaks are integral to various #AgroForestry systems, such as the #Dehesa system in #Spain. Here, holm oak trees "have been selected over centuries for the production of sweet acorns as a high quality #pig feed; planted deliberately or self-seeded. Below the tree layer is a grass layer used for grazing, or occasionally cultivated cereals "

https://www.aftaweb.org/latest-newsletter/temporate-agroforester/92-2005-vol-13/october-no-4/97-dehesa-agroforestry-systems.html

#ClimateDiary more school walk musings. We have these majestic #Holmoaks around here (they are really amazing - such a privilege to walk past them every day). At the moment the ground is covered with their dry leaves. They are evergreen and i don’t remember seeing this before. Is it the #Drought? But could also just have missed it.

Thinking a lot about #Attention again at the moment and #Phenology - and how it is to really notice changes unless your livelihood is tied up with it