159. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Manifesto for a Gift Economy

Gathering Moss is a series of linked personal essays that invite readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses. Robin Wall Kimmerer explains the biology of mosses clearly and artfully, while reflecting on what these organisms have to teach us. Drawing on her diverse experiences as a scientist, mother, teacher, and writer of Native American heritage, Kimmerer explains the stories of mosses in both scientific terms and the framework of indigenous ways of knowing. The book serves as a powerful metaphor for ways of living in the world, appealing to a wide range of readers from bryologists to those interested in natural history and the environment.

In "The Service Berry," Robin Wall Kimmerer uses the life cycle of the serviceberry plant as a metaphor for rethinking economic systems. The book explores the plant's generosity in providing abundance beyond its own needs, highlighting the concept of reciprocity in nature. Kimmerer contrasts this natural model with human-made economies characterized by overconsumption and hoarding. She advocates for a shift towards a gift economy, emphasizing the importance of sharing and building relationships for well-being and security. The book offers a blend of scientific knowledge and indigenous wisdom, urging readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world and the economy.