BFP #4: Wild Grass and Meadows

The Bomunsan Forest Protocols (BFPs) are concepts for the ecological cities of tomorrow, according to the wisdom of our elder trees.

June 23, 2032 — We walk into the office of the Minister of Regeneration and the Minister silently turns her back to us. Fingering a few hard cover books along the wall, she pulls out a small volume with a dark green cover. The shimmering gold lettering on the spine reveals the title: Weeds that Save the World.

The book, she says, was put together by the Office of the Environment ten years ago, and distributed to every local governmental agency and academic unit in the country.

“Not that they listened.” The minister sighs, rolling her eyes with a surprisingly casual smile.

The country has been suffering deeply. With the international transportation shut downs, many large cities are on the brink of social and ecological collapse, unable to provide food, shelter, and other basic services to their citizens. Adding to this, the floods, heat waves, droughts and energy shortages are setting records every season in the worst of ways. These are serious problems that require serious answers. And yet, here is a Minister of Regeneration, smiling at us and pulling out a book … of weeds?

The Minister swiveled the book toward us and opened to the introductory page. She pointed to the first paragraph:

In this book is a list of plants, most of which we call ‘wild’ or ‘weeds’. These plants are healers of the earth, the first line of defense and triage for suffering landscapes.

Looking up from the book, the Minister stared into our bewildered faces as she spoke. “If you were living in a landscape at the brink of ecological collapse, you would want an arsenal of plants that know how to jump in and nurse the land back to health. These plants should be our best ally. But what do cities here do? Spray poison. Rip them out of every street and garden.”

“Weeds.” I say it ambiguously, not sure of whether I am questioning the Minister or agreeing.

“Yes. Weeds. All wild plants. Mugwort, Clover, Dandelion, Broadleaf Plantain, Vetch. All the vines, all the ground covers, all the wildflowers and grasses. That is where we need to start, if we want to make things right.”

This was news to me at the time, so all I could think was to ask for a copy of the book. When I did, the minister motioned to her door, as if to usher us out. “We have a stack of them at the front desk. Take as many as you like.”

“Might I ask just a …”

I try to prolong our exit, but the Minister cuts me off. “Don’t just read the book.” She says with a good hearted laugh. “Stand in nature. Come back when you’ve learned the language of weeds.”

We nod with intention.

In the past decade my partner and I have spent countless days with weeds. Natural farmers don't exactly embrace them as their best friends, but they also do not make enemies of them. That is an important distinction. When weeds are tolerated (whether it is on a farm or in an urban landscape) we see, year after year, the miraculous the power they have to rehabilitate the health of that landscape.

After spending enough time with weeds in the urban landscape, we come to understand that cities benefit when they:

Spend less human effort manicuring urban landscapes, and let nature do her job. Understand that natural meadows provide both resilience and beauty.

Sustainable cities must plan for the growth of beneficial weeds, wildflowers, wild grasses, and meadow ecosystems as part of the urban commons. Such landscapes are generally low-maintenance, can support the resurgence of traditional local cuisines, and have a regenerative effect on urban ecology.

Our cities are in dire need of the service of weeds. It is about time we embraced them.

WHAT IS A BFP? The Bomunsan Forest Protocols (BFPs) were developed as part of A City Designed by Trees, an ecological exhibition commissioned for the 2022 Daejeon Biennale ‘City Project’. The protocols suggest urban planning concepts that 1) are ecologically sound, and 2) can help facilitate communication between humans and nature in the long-term.

Though they are inspired by the forests in and around Bomunsan (in Daejeon Korea), these protocols also echo the findings of countless wisdom traditions and scientific inquiries worldwide and are broadly applicable to many cities. We encourage you to share them, and also to transform and adapt them to your own urban ecological conditions.

For those who are not yet subscribed, you can do that below.

Both free and paid subscriptions get you the same content because that is how I roll. However, paying something helps me dedicate more time to make this whole thing better. If you can offer support, I am grateful for it.