“Recognizing ‘enoughness’ is a radical act in an economy that is always urging us to consume more.”
Have you ever learned about a concept for the first time, only to suddenly notice it everywhere? That happened to me with the idea of a circular, or gift, economy.
I recently spent a week in Yellowstone with a diverse group of women, each from different backgrounds and stages of life. Together, we tracked wolves, collected bison fecal samples, studied snow science, and, in our quieter moments, passed around a small yet profound book—one that deepened our connection not just to nature but to each other.
That book was Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry.
If Kimmerer’s name sounds familiar, you may have read her widely celebrated Braiding Sweetgrass, a collection of essays exploring Indigenous wisdom and the teachings of plants through the lens of a scientist and storyteller. In The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, Kimmerer expands on these ideas, offering a compelling vision of an economy rooted in gratitude, reciprocity, and community—principles drawn from the natural world itself. At its core, the book introduces the concept of a gift economy, in which “wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away… The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being;
the economic unit is ‘we’ rather than ‘I,’ as all flourishing is mutual.”
Kimmerer challenges the scarcity mindset ingrained in our current economic system, arguing that competition and hoarding have eroded values that once prioritized collective well-being. Yet, while economic theory can often feel abstract or overwhelming, The Serviceberry presents these ideas in an accessible, grounded way. Rather than advocating for an unrealistic departure from modern economic life, Kimmerer offers a shift in perspective—one that encourages small, meaningful actions that foster generosity and interconnectedness.
In recent years, many people have felt an increasing desire for deeper community bonds.
However, building community isn’t a skill that is widely taught, nor one that can be fully understood through reading alone.
It requires real-world practice. One of The Serviceberry’s most powerful lessons is that in times of uncertainty, connection and gratitude are antidotes to the alienation and helplessness that arise from our fractured relationships with both the land and one another. This message is not just inspiring—it is a call to action, urging readers to step outside of isolation and actively cultivate relationships that sustain both people and place.
Reading The Serviceberry the way I did—alongside a group, sharing both space and experience—deepened its impact in a way that solo reading never could.
Because of this, I encourage others to try something similar.
Pick up a copy of The Serviceberry from Bookshop Benicia, take your time with it, mark passages that resonate, then pass it along to someone in your community with the same invitation. Once the book has made its rounds, gather in a local park or a backyard, not just to discuss the book, but to share stories, exchange ideas, and explore ways to support one another in everyday life. Offer help where you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for it in return. Through these small but intentional acts, we can embrace the gift economy in its simplest form—by showing up for one another and watching our communities grow stronger as a result.
Simple Serviceberry Spring Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Bourbon
- 2 oz Serviceberry (or “Juneberry”) shrub *
- 4 oz Ginger ale
*Almost any berry shrub goes well with this cocktail. Make your own from local berries, distilled white vinegar and granulated sugar or buy it premade.
Preparation:
Pour the shrub and bourbon over ice in a short tumbler.
Top with ginger ale and sip in the sun!
