I love this, Linnea. Thanks for the references and book recommendation. I've been slow to pick up Robin Wall Kimmerer's work, but I will. I gave my mother Braiding Sweetgrass, and she loved it. I'll definitely pick up The Serviceberry. Do you know the work of Suzanne Simard? She wrote a book called Finding the Mother Tree, and if you haven't read it, I think you'd enjoy it. Also, I highly recommend the work of Diana Beresford-Kroeger—in particular, To Speak for the Trees and Our Green Heart. I'm happy to have discovered you. As a fiction writer, I'm currently working on a new project that's requiring me to learn a lot about trees.
This is a lovely read and fascinating take on trees - I read that same book this summer and found it quite moving to learn of the eco systems of trees , thanks for sharing.
Once I read the line, “Nature is a gift economy,” I stopped and listened more attentively to the crickets and frogs in the rice fields outside, serenading me. Gifting me. And now I’m curious to hear more from you about that… Can you unpack that some more for me, for us, based on what you know about this? And thank you for the gift of this post and all that it’s already given me. I’m getting off-line now to be with Nature all around me with more presence. 🙏🙏🙏
Human culture is transactional, I don’t think it was always that way but it has become so. This is not sustainable given the inevitable pressures it creates -witness the march of capitalism toward its own end.
In contrast, nature functions very differently and the complex web of life thrives. The central metaphor of this essay is trees, however you can see lots of others examples of symbiosis in nature which is a bridge between the transactional and the gifting approach. I recommend the book The Serviceberry for a lovely deep dive into this.
The way we share and celebrate each other’s work here at Substack with no expectation of reciprocity is also a gift economy. Generosity leads to generosity.
When I was in Bali I witnessed the gifting there. The little offerings of fresh flowers to the unseen, the generosity of spirit, the gentle smiles all around. Perhaps that is part of what drew you there?
Welcome aboard, and you are a colleague.
Happy to meet you! I started browsing your content and look forward to reading further.
I love this, Linnea. Thanks for the references and book recommendation. I've been slow to pick up Robin Wall Kimmerer's work, but I will. I gave my mother Braiding Sweetgrass, and she loved it. I'll definitely pick up The Serviceberry. Do you know the work of Suzanne Simard? She wrote a book called Finding the Mother Tree, and if you haven't read it, I think you'd enjoy it. Also, I highly recommend the work of Diana Beresford-Kroeger—in particular, To Speak for the Trees and Our Green Heart. I'm happy to have discovered you. As a fiction writer, I'm currently working on a new project that's requiring me to learn a lot about trees.
I was not aware of those books and will definitely look them up. Thank you! I’m happy to know you also and look forward to reading your work.
This is a lovely read and fascinating take on trees - I read that same book this summer and found it quite moving to learn of the eco systems of trees , thanks for sharing.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I have always had a love affair with trees, since early childhood. 💜
Thanks for the Serviceberry Book Recommendation. I've been looking for more books like Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees.
The longer the life the more it makes sense to slow down. Us humans have a pretty long life, but the brain, just keeps wanting to go faster.
Thank you, I’m going to look that one up! You may also enjoy The Overstory by Powers and Trees by Hesse.
Thanks just place library holds on the overstory. Seems like trees are poplar. 😂
As above, so below. And so it is.
And so it is 💜
Linnea, it's nice to connect with kindred spirit and thanks for subscribing to Wildlands. Looking forward to learning more about you and your work!
I’m really enjoying your work also, thank you for sharing it. 💜
Thank you, Linnea, I appreciate you. 💜
Love this , Linnea! Have been interested in this for some time now. Your piece reminds me, too, of Richard Powers' "The Overstory"
An absolutely beautiful book. Thank you for reminding me of it!
Another favorite of mine is Trees by Hermann Hesse.
Once I read the line, “Nature is a gift economy,” I stopped and listened more attentively to the crickets and frogs in the rice fields outside, serenading me. Gifting me. And now I’m curious to hear more from you about that… Can you unpack that some more for me, for us, based on what you know about this? And thank you for the gift of this post and all that it’s already given me. I’m getting off-line now to be with Nature all around me with more presence. 🙏🙏🙏
Human culture is transactional, I don’t think it was always that way but it has become so. This is not sustainable given the inevitable pressures it creates -witness the march of capitalism toward its own end.
In contrast, nature functions very differently and the complex web of life thrives. The central metaphor of this essay is trees, however you can see lots of others examples of symbiosis in nature which is a bridge between the transactional and the gifting approach. I recommend the book The Serviceberry for a lovely deep dive into this.
The way we share and celebrate each other’s work here at Substack with no expectation of reciprocity is also a gift economy. Generosity leads to generosity.
When I was in Bali I witnessed the gifting there. The little offerings of fresh flowers to the unseen, the generosity of spirit, the gentle smiles all around. Perhaps that is part of what drew you there?
Lovely piece, Linnea.
Thank you so much Maya
What a beautiful post.
Thank you Kim 💜🙏💜
Patience. Community. Deep roots. Trees have so much to teach us if we only listen.
I've heard that Suzanne Simard's work (Finding the Mother Tree) inspired James Cameron for the Tree of Souls. Very interesting work indeed.
Oooo, I’m going to have to look her up. Thank you!