“Nature is our home, and in nature we are at home. This strange, multicolored and astonishing world that we explore – where space is granular, time does not exist, and things are nowhere – is not something that estranges us from our true selves, for this is only what our natural curiosity reveals to us about the place of our dwelling. About the stuff of which we ourselves are made. We are made of the same stardust of which all things are made, and when we are immersed in suffering, or when we are experiencing intense joy, we are being nothing other than what we can’t help but be: a part of our world….” — Carlo Rovelli
I’ve been tearing through some books and podcasts recently. It may be the wooing of my front porch swing or the hours and hours spent on long road trips that allow for more time to read for pleasure and zone into a podcast series more intensely. In any case – it’s most welcome. For the past several months, almost ALL of the books and podcasts absorbed into my brain have been recommendations from friends and colleagues that did not disappoint. I’ve been really drawn to science meets intuitive wisdom lately and reading anything I can get my hands on to this extent.
Books ——
Braiding Sweetgrass – a gift from my Aunt this past holiday, and a lovely reminder of our connection to our ancestry, our traditions, our connection with the earths seasonal gifts, and our ability (and responsibility) to share life’s pleasures and nature’s bounty.
The Hidden Life of Trees – to quench my desire to get to know my towering, leafy friends on a more personal level.
Harvest – if you have a garden, you must read this book! Not only is it strikingly beautiful (those photos!), but the recipes it provides for dozens of garden and backyard treasures are so fun! I want to make every single thing in this book – especially the pickled rhubarb and the herbed salts.
Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians – I’m planning a private retreat in June to the Virginia mountains of Appalachia to do a weekend herb walk and medicine making workshop with some of my friends and colleagues (you can read about last year’s dry run here). Appalachia is SO FULL of traditional folk medicine with a rich history of herbal use, although so little of this knowledge is in written form. It’s a verbal tradition, passed from generation to generation. But for some preliminary reading (and to brush up a bit myself), I’m re-reading this tried and true classic, filled with dozens of Appalachian herbs, their use and medicine making tips.
7 Brief Lessons on Physics – a sweet find from listening to the On Being podcast with guest Carlo Rovelli. His interview is one of my favorites in that podcast series, and his little pocket sized book is a much needed reminder of the wonders and complexities all around us (and the basics of physics I’ve forgotten over the years…)
Podcasts ——
On Being – with every free moment I’m listening to Krista Tippet’s interviews in this beautiful podcast. Her guests have really opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and perspectives I’ve never considered on everything from poetry to physics to music to religion. Definitely worth a listen.
Invisibilia – all about the invisible forces that control human behavior and it’s mind blowing.
Stuff You Should Know – what to know more about __________? They’ve got it on this podcast. Applicable to all the gardeners right now : How Composing Works
Revisionist History – this was a frequent go-to on a recent road trip I took to New Orleans, and if you’re a history junkie like me, it’s an interesting perspective on the little bits of history we may not think twice about – but dives deep into the long forgotten details of those seemingly insignificant historical characters and their bigger impact on the world today.
What are some of the books and podcasts that you’ve been loving lately? I’m on the hunt for upcoming summer reads and podcasts for upcoming road trips and travels! Share yours below…
Photo by Renee Byrd
