Our Kindred Home: Herbal Recipes, Plant Wisdom, and Seasonal Rituals for Rekindling Connection with the Earth

by Alyson Morgan

Learn to reconnect with plants and nature for collective healing in a world beset by environmental crisis with this herbalism and eco-activist handbook.

“Breathtakingly beautiful . . . a gentle and welcoming hand offering to guide those of us seeking mindful connection and mutually nurturing paths through life in the Anthropocene.”—Whitney Leigh Morris, author of Small Space Style

Alyson Morgan, a second-generation Haitian American, grew up feeling disconnected from her roots and suffering from the trauma of racism. To heal herself, she found a connection with the natural world around slowing down, respecting the seasons, and growing or foraging plants in her local area. To Alyson, connection with the earth means finding a sense of place and home in an era of stress and overwhelm. Now she shares her methods of homesteading for anyone to practice in their own life. Beautifully photographed, with plant monographs, illustrations, and recipes, Our Kindred Home explores our deep ties to the natural world and offers regenerative and sustainable ways of living. 

Alyson helps readers better understand the deep grief and systemic harm that stems from disconnection with nature, and provides pathways for healing, such  

• An exploration of ecological grief and its impacts
• Information for working with subtle body energy
• Tools for observing, identifying, foraging, and cultivating plants
• Methods for creating infusions, honeys, vinegars, and oils
• More than 80 seasonal and 40 plant monographs

With the whole world in environmental crisis, creating a relationship with the earth that is reciprocal rather than exploitative and understanding our fundamental interconnectedness is more vital than ever. In Our Kindred Home , you'll find everyday ways to connect to the earth for resilience, resistance, liberation, and collective healing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Food

320 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[Lauren Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so thoroughly thoughtful, heart-felt, and well written. I've recently become interested in herbalism and gardening as a part of my wellness journey. Most books I have looked at tend to be clinical, dry, technical which as a beginner feels little overwhelming and feels less accessible. Not so with this book. Alyson Morgan introduces this topic with emotional depth and a conscious connection to her ancestors and the land she lives on. She addresses personal and environmental grief. Plants are not merely medicine but healers and allies. The reader has many opportunities to connect with this subject on an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual level. I cannot recommend this book enough. I read a lot and this is one of the best books I've read so far this year. 🌱🙏❤

[Ashleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Purchased today and returning to the bookstore for a refund tomorrow. I’m white and the author lives in a “White Supremacy Society” (her words, in the book, page 8.) She clearly blames White people for her “trauma.” How is it she had a book published in a “white-dominated society.” (Also, her words, page 7.) I AM STUNNED.

[Carolyn Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely book with beautiful photographs and pretty watercolor illustrations. I have grown herbs in a small way for decades and learned to recognize many wild plants traditionally used in folk medicine, as well as owning several books on the subject, so herbalism is not a new topic for me. This is one herbal book that will appeal to a younger generation concerned with environmentalism as well as honoring the traditions of indigenous people and African Americans. The author looks to nature for the healing of both racial trauma and the physical body. She has gathered various attributes and healing qualities of herbal plants from both folk and indigenous traditions, metaphysical and intuitive sources, and scientific studies. I felt that some of the folklore such as the doctrine of signatures, which dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and has long been proven to be worthless anthropomorphism and dangerous, does not belong in a modern herbal. Other modalities such as energy healing and flower essences may resonate with certain new age practitioners, but have no scientific backing. This is earth medicine and sounds, for lack of a better word, witch-y or woo woo. If this viewpoint appeals to you, then you’ll enjoy this book. Otherwise, beware.

Besides the visual appeal of the book, I did like many of the food recipes she included. She also explains the different ways of using herbs such as in decoctions, tinctures, and distillations as well as poultices and other applications. However, she wasn’t always clear with directions under the specifics of each herb, such as which parts to use for what, whether flowers, leaves, or roots, and how best to use them. In her recipes, however, her instructions were much clearer.

The author’s lifestyle embodies *slow living*, an approach popular on Instagram and such, but here is the real thing. This book will appeal to those who appreciate a worldview of many indigenous peoples, as propounded in the book Braiding Sweetgrass, where plants have a form of consciousness and are connected with us as we are connected inevitably to nature. Certainly, the western scientific approach to nature as an endless resource to be exploited has brought us to the environmental precipice we are on today. A different attitude, and gratitude, towards Nature is required. This book is a testament of that. Three and a half stars.

[TheLinhDo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what I expected from the book yet I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful writing, the very personal storytelling, the inspiring outcry and call to connect with mother earth. This is truly a stunning book with beautiful art and a very thoughtful layout making it easy to navigate.

[Elaine de Jong · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful resource of all things herbs. The book is gorgeous. The watercolours of the herbs are really stunning. There is information and recipes for all kinds of herbs, flowers, and some fruits. It makes me eager for spring and my urban balcony garden.

[Darlene Messenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've received a free copy from Harmony Books and Rodale Books in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
The book itself is beautifully illustrated with photos and plant drawings. The font is extremely small. I received a hardcover and the reader will require something to hold the book open in order to access the recipes.
Content is based upon authors' personal experience and perspective on trauma, racism, methods she chose for healing and earth based religions. Recipes included span from soup to homeopathic medicine. Could not find certification for medicine so recommend the reader check with a holistic medicine expert prior to trying.
I recommend this book for its visual illustration. It will be triggering for readers with similar experiences.

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the subtitle makes pretty clear, it spends much time discussing the interconnectedness of the world, humans and plants. What it didn't show was the discussion of healing from intergenerational trauma, reclaiming identity, and reconnecting with oneself through plants. If this stuff isn't up your alley, you won't like it. I loved it, and I'm going to buy it (library rental).
the first part of the book is more autobiography and theory, the discussion of above.
the second is a recipe book of sorts, with beautiful illustrations of the plants, detailed information about them and their uses, and examples of use for each one. (usually, each plant had at least two recipes for it). This section was divided by season, so it's easy to flip to the part of the book that matches what time of year you're in.
It seems targeted toward the northern hemisphere (but not USA exclusive), but this makes sense because the writer is living in the American midwest.

[Vania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that I got my own copy after borrowing it from the library. I love a good book that combines beautiful stories with recipes, insight with information, context with compassion.

Alyson not only shares recipes and information about gardening, but also the connection herbal and plant medicine has with healing different forms of trauma. She also does a beautiful job explaining the relationship between tending to the earth and soil as a way of honouring our ancestors. She writes from an intersectional lens and as a respectful environmental steward.

The recipes aren’t just for eating delicious meals, but rather how to take care of yourself and heal with plants. I really love how she infuses the book with this offering. She breaks it down seasonally, and even though I live in Canada, the plants that grow are similar where I live.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There was a high focus on how to connect to the natural world and a deep dive into seasonality. This focused on growing, harvesting, preserving and using. It included lessons in foraging with an overall message of hope, renewal and rewilding.

I feel sorry for the previous reviewer who couldn’t get past their racist thoughts to give this book a chance. They truly missed out on wonderful advice from a very knowledgeable woman.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I mean, it is right up my alley! However, it starts out with so much sorrow and then moves on to a lot of chakra and woo woo stuff and the like. I'm just not there yet. I think in a better headspace I could get into this one but if you're not into that kind of thing I think it's not for you.

[R.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of recipes and socially progressive writings on how fostering more meaningful connections with the green world may help us heal and grow as humans. I loved Morgan's embrace of a wholly anti-colonialist perspective and was inspired to find ways to apply such thinking to my own work in the garden and kitchen alike. Reading this book alongside Robin Wall Kimmerer's "Braiding Sweetgrass" was a natural fit!

I do have a few reasons for keeping back one star. Firstly is because I couldn't click with the astrological leanings that Morgan brought in for many of her plant profiles, as well as the "doctrine of signatures" (i.e. an apple is beneficial to the heart because it's red and vaguely heart-shaped) and "flower essence" of each plant (i.e. an apple flower "imparts clarity and purifies the body of past woes"). Secondly, while Morgan is excellent at communicating healthy foraging habits to her reader, she also suggest an exercise to wait for a sign from nature that it's okay to collect a plant in the wild. This could be a plant swaying in the wind, or an especially close "connection" with it. You then ask to take it before cutting anything. While I like the theory of waiting for a sign and asking permission, I think that we can foster meaningful connections with nature without resorting to the fiction that the plant has any choice in our foraging decisions. This same critique applies to "Braiding Sweetgrass". However, I do acknowledge that these beliefs may simply come from vastly different folkways than my own, and that I just might not have the proper cultural contexts to comprehend their importance... which is why all this text only resulted in one subtracted star. A beautiful and well-written book all said, and an important addition to the continually strengthening movement of socially progressive ecology.

[Bridgette Guerzon Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and profound writing, and very much needed. I'm not surprised by the 1 star ratings from a certain group of people on this app- but that's more about them, than about this book. The author talks about generational trauma and how reconnecting to the Earth and plants helped heal her. I found her words comforting and hopeful as we walk through life in the Anthropecene.

I borrowed this book from the library, but I love it so much that I'm going to buy it to add to my collection.

Beautiful photos and illustrations. Most importantly, this book actually makes me even more curious about herbalism. I've read other books on herbalism, but this one spoke to my spirit because of how she approached the topic.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautiful herbalism book. Some people might be offeneded (ahem, you might want to call these people racist) by her references to historical trauma of Black people in America and can't get past that. They're missing out on a lot. This is a truly excellent book. I love the recipes, but esp, I love the profiles of the different herbs. She includes herbs many don't include, some of which I use. An excellent herbalism book.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty, I didn’t read too much of the actual writing in the book, but I made one recipe tonight (the Herbal Macaroni & Cheese) that was delicious. I plan on making the Apple & Sage Crumple and Goldenrod Poached Pears next! I’m impressed with the recipes so far. :) I love the herbalism components of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little woo for my understanding of the world, and the many references to the doctrine of signatures makes me reluctant to use this for a true guide, but seems like a good jumping off point for things that spark my interest. It’s a lovely book to peruse and enjoyed Alyson Morgan’s writing style.

[Juli Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A generous and wise book.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good herbal tips but not really my vibe