The Serviceberry

Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.

As Indigenous scientist and Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer gathers serviceberries alongside the birds, she reflects on the ethic of reciprocity at the heart of the gift economy. Drawing on Indigenous wisdom and the teachings of the natural world, she invites us to reconsider what we value most. In contrast to an economy driven by scarcity, competition, and accumulation, the serviceberry offers a different model—one rooted in abundance, interconnectedness, and shared well-being. By freely offering its fruit to sustain the wider community, the tree ensures not only collective flourishing, but its own survival as well.

Praised by Elizabeth Gilbert as “a great teacher,” Kimmerer delivers a powerful and timely meditation on our relationship with the world around us. The Serviceberry is both a critique of modern systems and a hopeful vision for change—reminding us that true prosperity lies not in hoarding, but in mutual care and generosity.