"What would it be like to consume with the full awareness that we are the recipients of earthly gifts, which we have not earned? To consume with humility? We are called to harvest honorably, with restraint, respect, reverence, and reciprocity."

Much like she does in her most well-known work Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer invites readers to reimagine modern ways of living utilizing her unique dual perspective as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and professional botanist. In The Serviceberry, Kimmerer introduces the imagery of the titular tree's annual fruiting and the abundance of its berries. Birds and other wildlife visit the tree, as does Kimmerer herself. Each visitor to the tree shares in its bounty. What if we all only took what we needed and shared with one another? What if we viewed the abundance of plants as a gift? From that initial example of the serviceberry tree, Kimmerer then expands upon the ideas and real-life examples (mutual aid! public libraries!) of gift economies in action.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @milkweed_books for the advanced reader copy of The Serviceberry in exchange for my honest review! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.