The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World is the highly anticipated new book from Indigenous scientist and essayist Robin Wall Kimmerer. This meditation on ecology and economics in the modern age is rooted in the same sense of natural wonder that made Braiding Sweetgrass an inspiration to millions of readers, as well as a perennial bestseller on the New York Times nonfiction list since its release 10 years ago.
Kimmerer describes serviceberries as "small, hard fruits, which tend toward dryness, and only once in a while is there a tree with sweet offerings." Yet their seasonal ripening reminds her of how "eating with the seasons is a way of honoring abundance, by going to meet it when and where it arrives." Her ruminations are decorated with spot illustrations by John Burgoyne, whose evocative crosshatching gives life and depth to the alluring plants and captivating creatures throughout.
And in the spirit of her subject, Kimmerer plans to donate all proceeds from The Serviceberry to land trusts protecting the natural world from development and destruction. The book will also be printed in an eco-conscious package with recycled paper and printers that have embraced sustainability.