paw paw futures
who is paw paw?
Paw paw is a dynamic tree that grows the largest fruit of any “native” tree within the continental US. We love eating the fruit of this clonal root-sprouting tree by enhancing the custardy flavor with squeezed lime juice and a sprinkle of chile flakes. Paw paws are complex life forms whose value far exceeds the aesthetic and consumptive values that dominate our society. In the coming days we will share our story of growing and learning from this wondrous tree.
becoming paw paw
Last year we saved the seeds of a few paw paw fruits from the orchard at @weaverswayfarms . A year later, small saplings grow in pots under a shading bush that shields their tender young leaves, and soon they will be planted in the ground in various locations. Paw paws are rhizomatically-spreading understory trees whose range is slowly shifting northward at a rate of 13 miles per decade. For the paw paw, the migratory behavior inherent to their clonal colonies might aid their move north, but humans can play a role in aiding their migration as well.
the collective understory
Our paw paw saplings will be planted in various locations, grouped in pairs or clusters since paw paws need friends to pollinate. In five years they have the potential to start fruiting. We are planning a framework that will acknowledge the paw paw's morphology and behavioral needs within a rapidly changing environment - and allow for the plants' own adaptive strategies to unfold over time.
