Did you know that the #1 best-seller on Amazon in the field of ecology is “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants”? On Sunday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m., the Monadnock Summer Lyceum will host the author of that book, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, as she shares with her audience some of the lessons taught by ordinary plants — such as asters, goldenrod, strawberries, squash and sweetgrass. Dr. Kimmerer’s lecture will be held in the historic Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church (25 Main Street, Peterborough).
Music lovers should arrive by 10:30 a.m. to hear selections played by guitarist and composer Jose Lezcano. Following Dr. Kimmerer’s presentation, at noon, there will be a reception. For more information, visit www.monadnocklyceum.org.
Drawing on her life as an indigenous plant scientist, teacher, writer, and mother, Dr. Kimmerer will share lessons found in her best-selling book. In Traditional Ecological Knowledge, plants are regarded not only as persons, but as among our oldest teachers. If plants are our teachers, what are they teaching us and how can we be better students?
In a rich braid of ecological science, indigenous philosophy, and literary reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, Dr. Kimmerer will explore and celebrate the material and cultural gifts of plants and our responsibilities for reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. It is the covenant of reciprocity that keeps the world in balance. How might we learn to reciprocate the many gifts of the plants with meaningful gifts of our own?
The presentation will be moderated by Peterborough resident Elaine Holden, who writes the Avid Reader column for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript.