The June meeting of the Environmental Book Group, a collaboration between Perrot Memorial Library and the Conservation Commission, will take place on Monday, June 16, at 7 pm in the Program Room, Radcliffe Building, Perrot Memorial Library. Rebecca Poirier, environmental analyst, Town of Greenwich, will lead a discussion of The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

As indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love.

Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”

Registration is required.

To reserve a copy of The Serviceberry, visit our catalog.

For more information, contact Judy Sgammato at 203-637-1066 x15 or judys@perrotlibrary.org.