By Linda Wiggen Kraft, Healthy Planet Green & Growing Editor
Gardens full of native plants are what is needed to sustain the life of insects, birds and wildlife of our current world. But plants are not enough to make a true native garden. What is often missing is the reverence and honoring of the plants and all the life of a garden that is the tradition of native peoples.
We can learn about these traditions and bring their essence into our own ways of gardening. One of the easiest ways to learn is through children’s books that share stories about the reverence and honoring of earth by native peoples. Although written and illustrated for children, these books are perfect for adults. The following books written and illustrated by Native Americans carry much wisdom and delight. Their wisdom can be used to help all of us complete the true meaning of a native garden.
Four books that share indigenous wisdom are: Remember by United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, illustrated by Michaela Goade; When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz, illustrated by David Kanietakeron; Berry Song written and illustrated by Michaela Goade; and Can You Hear the Plants Speakby Nicholas Hummingbird and Julia Wasson, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight.
Remember is a poem by the first Native American United States Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo. It starts with, “Remember the sky you were born under, know each of the star’s stories.” The words of wisdom of this poem were things Harjo learned early in her life. These are words to take into a person’s heart to guide them as they walk their path of life.
When the Shadbush Bloomsfollows a young girl through a year as she discovers the beauty and bounty of plants and animals on the land she lives on. This is the same land where her grandparent’s grandparents lived. The past and present generations experience the same cycle of life where the shadbush blooms and nature provides. The back of the book explains the seasons in English and the native language of the Lenni Lenape Native Americans of Northeast United States.
Berry Songtells the story of a young girl and her grandmother who pick many kinds of food and berries that grow wild. They sing to the ancestors, land and berries and give thanks. They take berries home and make treats knowing their depth of connection to earth and cosmos. At the end more details about different kinds of berries and the sustainable ways to pick them is shared.
Can You Hear the Plants Speakstarts with, “Our people believe spirit lives in everything. mountain, river, wind, tree. Come, take a walk with me. If you listen you will hear the plants offer their gifts.” A child walks with their adult as the adult shares the wisdom of listening to plants through the heart. This way of listening was taught by their ancestors. Sometimes listening is hard with much of the earth covered by concrete. But plants still speak and can be heard. There is hope to learn from and nurture plants and life on earth.
Let this pause of winter’s garden time be a perfect time to let the words and illustrations of these beautiful books bring a deep knowing of what a true native garden is. Let the books be inspiration of how to complete a native garden with reverence and love.
Linda Wiggen Kraft is a landscape designer of holistic/organic gardens. She is an artist and creativity workshop leader. Her ceramic jewelry and pottery are available online and at www.gardendistrictstl.com. Find out more, subscribe to her blog and Instagram at www.creativityforthesoul.com Call her at 314 504-4266.