Author Leigh Joseph, an ethnobotanist and a member of the Squamish Nation, provides a beautifully illustrated essential introduction to Indigenous plant knowledge.
*Honorable Mention, 2023 Foreword INDIE Book Award*
Plants can be a great source of healing as well as nourishment, and the practice of growing and harvesting from trees, flowering herbs, and other plants is a powerful way to become more connected to the land. The Indigenous Peoples of North America have long traditions of using native plants as medicine and for food.
Held by the Land
honors and shares some of these traditions, offering a guide to:
Harvesting herbs and other plants and using them topically
North American plants that can treat common ailments, add nutrition to your diet, become part of your beauty regime, and more
Stories and traditions about native plants from the author’s Squamish culture
Using plant knowledge to strengthen your connection to the land you live on
Early chapters introduce you to responsible ways to identify and harvest plants in your area and teach you how to grow a deeper connection with the land you live on through plants.
In the plant profiles section, common plants are introduced with:
Elegant, line-drawn botanical art for each plant
Information on their characteristics and range
How to grow and/or harvest them
How to use them topically and as food
Special features with recipes for food and beauty products along with stories and traditions around the plants
This beautiful, full-color guide to Indigenous plants will give you new insights into the power of everyday plants.