The purple flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) that I didn’t plant in my food forest. (Eastern Ontario, zone 4b.)

I’m a bit surprised that more people don’t eat the furry soft sweet goodness they produce. They’re growing wild and natively in about a dozen big patches just beyond my food forest. They’re great for pollinators and wildlife. I may trim them a bit if they start shading more desirable young trees or berry bushes I’ve planted, but apart from that, I’m keeping them.

I’ve eaten these growing wild in the edges of woods since I was 9 years old. They have a bit of sentimental value now that I’ve reached the grey hair stage. I like that they bloom all summer, and produce their fruit continuously from late July to October.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that in permaculture, sometimes important and useful species are already present as natives.