Book review- The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This month's book review is for a truly wonderful and truly tiny little book, The Serviceberry, An economy of gifts and abundance by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I adore Robin Wall Kimmerer's books. I have bought two, as precious parts of my library to reread and also to lend. As a botanist, and a women, there are so many aspects Robin's life that I can deeply relate to and others I am grateful to learn more about. Braiding Sweetgrass deeply resonated with me, empowered and validated many of my owns views of the world through my ecologist’s lens.

This book is a bit different to the deeply catharthic, beautifully written Gathering Moss and Braiding Sweetgrass. It is a more direct, critical and angry look at systems in place. It a different tone to her previous books, but it is too incredibly written and cathartic in a different way.

This is a book to read when you're feeling desperate, angry, frustrated. It is such a short book, but covers so much for action. A blueprint for dignity amongst anger. For me, this cements my own actions in community, for those friends, colleagues and people I know doing small things, every single day in action. The small acts that nourish us, our communities and ecosystems we live in, and against a system that is at odds with that.

Throughout this book, I was reminded of Kate Bigwood, and her visions and actions at Bigwood Estate in Surrey. Every year she allows us into the enormous orchard to pick as many apples as we can for our community fridge. She runs community days where people can come and access free, local, delicious produce. This is the living gift economy, feeding us with her abundance.

It is a small book, it may only take you a slow Sunday morning. And please do read it, I can't recommend it enough.