Out of the Woods Book Club - Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Robin Wall Kimmerer - Author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Out of the Woods book club presents: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

So, I had this idea to “host” an Out of the Woods book club that would focus on titles that aren’t only interesting but align with our values of promoting sustainable consumption, creation, and living. I think one of our most powerful tools within the environmental movement is education. However, a lot of people, myself at one point included, believe that because they are not the most knowledgeable on environmental issues or sustainability, that they are not qualified to be a part of this movement. As someone coming from a background outside of Environmental Science/Studies/Sustainability, etc., I found that reading not only made me more confident in my knowledge, but it also gave me a sense of belonging to a movement I wasn’t sure I was allowed to be a part of.

Now, this book I will have to admit is something I have read excerpts from for coursework and I finally got around to buying the whole book because of how moved I was by merely a few paragraphs. So, unlike some, I am not going in fully blind and have a sense of what we are getting into. Don’t worry, no spoiler alerts here but I will say I found immense peace within the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer. As a Potawatomi botanist, professor, and author to name a few of her incredible titles, I found that Kimmerer was able to do something I felt like few others in the space had, she created room for you to be there with her and hear her story in regard to the natural world around us in what felt like the hope you would begin to not only examine but create your own.

For the month of February I will be reading the wonderful book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants and will come back with a review and what I learned! If you want to read along with me or wait for my summary, I would love to share this experience of learning, listening, and respect for the world around us with you. Check in on our socials for more updates on our book club and let us know if you're taking part in the Out of the Woods book club!

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Need the perfect bag to go grab this book from your local book store? Check out my fave book carrying totes below!

The Market Tote and Market Tote Mini in Sahara