The Serviceberry: gift economy teacher

Who We’re Reading: Robin Wall Kimmerer

by Robin Kelson

Fans of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s first two books, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss will find themselves equally nourished by her latest work.

Using the serviceberry as her guide, Kimmerer shows us how nature is the ultimate gift economy, weaving stories of culture and science through her tour.  As always, she invites us to follow the lead of our oldest teachers, the plants, “to replenish the possibility of mutual flourishing.”

If you are like me, chances are you will read this book again and again, so I recommend buying two copies, one to keep and one to share.

“Gratitude and reciprocity are the currency of a gift economy, and they have the remarkable property of multiplying with every exchange, their energy concentrating as they pass from hand to hand, a truly renewable resource.”

Kimmerer closes her book with a declaration, an invitation and a question:

• Regenerative economies that reciprocate the gift are the only way forward.
• Our oldest teachers, the plants, invite us all into the circle to give our human gifts in return for all we are given.
• How will we answer?

Robin Kelson
Executive Director