Finding The Mother Tree
“Making this transformation requires that humans reconnect with nature–the forest, the prairie, the oceans–instead of treating everything and everyone as objects for exploitation. It means expanding our modern ways, our epistemology, and scientific methodologies, so that they complement, build on, and align with aboriginal roots. Mowing down the forests and harvesting water to fulfill our wildest dreams of material wealth just because we can has caught up with us.”
— Finding The Mother Tree
Suzanne Simard
A Review:
The vanguard, Suzanne Simard, reflects on her life and research to explore the world in which she lives in the book Finding Mother Tree. She broaches subjects pertinent to everyone along with highlighting unique struggles women face by recounting and summarizing her research of the forest. The research focuses on uncovering what eventually became her idea of the Mother Tree– as implied by the title. Her discoveries show some of the mysteries of knowledge by revealing that the Western World may be catching up to the civilizations they destroyed regarding caring for the world. Where this book glimmers for me is how Susan acknowledges the importance of cooperative living and learning. Susan tactfully pays homage to the aboriginals of the area while defining her research. Cooperation is essential to move forward and flourish. This cooperation transcends families and individual species. Competition and an individualistic lifestyle is not the most essential thing promoting vitality. The interconnected life discovered in the forest floor reveals all of this. The wisdom brought forward from the ground to the book is needed for many as we move into the future. Many of the grim predictions from the scientists of our past are coming to fruition. What is shared can be applied to growing many types of crops, social networking, and caring for animals. Where I find power in the science presented in the book, others may identify with Susan’s story of making her space in an exclusionary profession. She battled misogyny, personal turmoil, and illness to put forward what she knew was right. These struggles lasted throughout her life, and each one served a new lesson. Whether one is interested in science, feminist struggles, or simply wants an insightful story; I recommend this book.