Robin Wall Kimmerer's The Gift Of Strawberries

In Robin Wall Kimmerer’s excerpt, “The Gift of Strawberries” from the “Braiding Sweetgrass”, Kimmerer describes her childhood, growing up in a lower-income family and appreciating the time she spent with her family while picking strawberries. When she picked strawberries with her brother, she reminisced about the times she would chase him, run through the fields, maintain the Strawberry plants, and enjoy social time with her brother while making gifts with materials that had value to her. Her definition of a gift is defined by the effort that goes into it, as well as appreciation. In The Gift of Strawberries, Kimmerer states, “I experienced the world in that time as a gift economy, "goods and services" not purchased but received as gifts from

I thought that was the definition of a gift: something you made for someone else.”. Here, she again talks about homemade gifts and the process. In the story, she gives a perfect example of making a gift despite coming from a poor family. Her father enjoys his wife's strawberry shortcake that his wife makes. Everything from the hand-picked strawberries, the hand-sifted flour, and the makeshift baking pans, to the box the cake is stored in. Kimmerer explains that this is simply better than buying a strawberry cake from the supermarket, as she claims the workers inside the supermarket who baked the cake have no idea how to love it at

It speaks to the beauty of the natural world and the blessings that come from experiencing it. The poem highlights the pleasure of eating freshly picked strawberries and the satisfaction of sharing this experience with others. In this way, the text relates to the world by reminding us of the importance of appreciating the simple things in life and the power of community and sharing. The poem invites us to slow down, take a moment to savor life's pleasures and cherish the moments we spend with the people we love. In a world that often focuses on material wealth and success, "The Gift of Strawberries" serves as a reminder to celebrate the simple yet meaningful aspects of life that bring us true