Can ‘Banana Buffers’ Save California from Wildfires?(atlasobscura.com) |
Can ‘Banana Buffers’ Save California from Wildfires?(atlasobscura.com) |
We had a young couple of tenants in a condo who planted a "love tree" banana plant behind their unit. It grew and grew and grew, producing bananas each year but their love dried out and died. Finally one evening, after she tried breaking the front condo window (he knew she was drunk and wouldn't let her in and wouldn't talk to her) with a very large potted plant, the police were called in and both were toted off and evicted.
The banana tree florished even when we tried to kill it. It always grew back. We compromised by chopping it down each year after it has produced bananas (very tasty).
I imagine there will be fights over water, but locking water up in bananas may well be better than nut orchards.
I like this fire resistance theory. Even just slowing down the forefront has benefits. Lives, and property could be saved.
Also: stop growing eucalyptus in California!