Now Reading: The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Grow & Read, Together Again

In June, our inaugural Leaf by Leaf meeting brought together a mix of in‑person and virtual attendees, book lovers, tree enthusiasts, and nature‑curious minds. We shared appetizers and drinks and discussed The Hidden Life of Trees—learning how trees communicate, support each other, and foster community around them. We also introduced conversation prompts like:

• Tree core memories – meaningful encounters rooted in place and time
• Personifying trees and what that reveals about forest interdependence
• What old‑growth forest rhythms can teach us in our fast‑paced world
• How our community can protect and nurture local trees and green spaces

That gathering planted the seed for our roots to deepen, and now we’re inviting everyone back to grow together and explore The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.

Why Serviceberry?

Robin Wall Kimmerer blends scientific study with Indigenous wisdom to explore what nature teaches us about reciprocity and community:

• Serviceberry functions as a beacon of the gift economy. Radically different from market capitalism, this is an economy built on gratitude, shared abundance, and mutual support. Kimmerer frames wealth in terms of relationship quality, not accumulation.
• She observes serviceberries being harvested by both birds and humans, and reflects on how gifts flow through ecosystems, and how gratitude and reciprocity form our true economy.
• The essay challenges familiar economics by questioning scarcity‑based thinking and inviting us to imagine more cooperative, community‑based models of living.
  

Event Details

Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 6pm
Location: Spring Grove Nursery Office & Virtual via GoogleMeet
Reading: The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Discussion Prompts

Feel free to reflect on these themes:

• How does the serviceberry serve as a metaphor and model for gift economies?
• Share stories of gratitude and reciprocity in your lives. Where have you seen abundance shared rather than hoarded?
• What shifts in perspective about value, community, or nature did this reading spark?
• How has your understanding of economics or “enough” changed through this lens?
• What small actions might we take to embody gift‑based thinking in our community?

Just as our June meet-up was rooted in nature’s subtle networks – tree souls, core memories, and deep forest wisdom – Serviceberry invites us to extend that into human relationships and systems. Kimmerer shifts the frame from trees to communities, from roots in soil to roots in kinship, nurturing, and exchange.

Join Us

Whether you’ve read The Serviceberry once or are returning to it with fresh eyes, your reflections are welcome. If you’re new to Kimmerer, come curious and ready for thoughtful conversation. RSVP by emailing maggie@sgntrees.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and join our Leaf by Leaf Facebook group!