This is a beautiful book. I loved the illustrations and the way everything was presented, and it's a very accessible guide to the native way of looking at plants and the land. I love this way of foraging, it's so interesting and important to learn about a more holistic way of relating to nature. I don't live in the PNW but my brother and sister-in-law do; I think this would make the perfect gift for them!

This is a beautiful book -- that said, it is illustration-based, so those who aren't very familiar with some of the plants within it will likely need to cross-reference with images.

The lens through which it is written is Indigenous ethnobotany, which is a much-needed departure from many other foraging or natural guidebooks. Much of the writing encompasses how to relate with the land and respect it as a living thing, couched in Indigenous language and ways of being.

I wish I had a book like this for my region, but this will be an especially lovely read for anyone in the PNW.

Eye-opening and fascinating. I am based north of squarmish territory, but you could live in the Southern Hemisphere and this would still be a worthwhile read. For anyone looking to relate to nature on a deeper level, this beautiful book is a must read.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This book covers 44 plants focused mainly in the North West of the US. The author tells about their history and indigenous history with the plants. They then give information about how the plant can be used, how and when to harvest, and a recipe - for food or beauty products. They also include information about how best to interact with and honor the land. Each plant has the name in English and the language of her tribe.
I thought that this was an informative book. The information was good and expanded on basic information about the plants. The visual presentation is beautiful and draws the reader in.

This is a beautiful book. The author, an indigenous ethnobotanist, takes us on a journey through herbal plants. She shows us all of the practicalities of finding, harvesting, and using these plants, as well as indigenous beliefs which enrich the experience and show a new way to be with the plants around us.

One note is that this book does specifically focus on plants in the Pacific Northwest. It is not as applicable to other parts of the country. That said, the first half of the book is invaluable regardless of which plants are in your area. Hi

This isn't my first book about plants by an indigenous author but this one has many more plants from the PNW. I grew up there & I would like to live there again someday. I would find this immensely useful. It includes identification, medicinal uses, recipes, habitat, harvest information, & building relationships with the plants. There is also a word on poisonous plants to keep the reader safe

This was extremely interesting and informative. I don't have a lot of the plants listed near me, but I loved learning about the area, the culture, how to properly harvest and appreciate the plants, I want there to be a book like this for all areas! It would be cool to learn about each areas, native plants and how the indigenous people of the area utilize them.

This is an introduction to plant wisdom and ethical foraging by a Squamish author. It is very detailed in issues like sustainability and the Squamish relationships to the plants.

Profiles are provided for dozens of plants like horsetail, thimbleberry and fireweed, given with the Squamish names first and information about identification, uses and responsible harvesting. Each has a line drawing (no photos) and simple recipe. Some of the recipes are traditional while others seem to be newly created (two other people apparently helped create the recipes). Some of the recipes surprised me since I was expecting more traditional recipes. For instance, the elderflower cordial recipe calls for citric acid and there are a lot of modern ingredients like hemp hearts and chia seeds.

Joseph’s love and knowledge of her Squamish culture and of these plants comes through every page.

Keep in mind that it’s very specific to the plants in the Northwest U.S. Other than a very few plants like stinging nettles and wild roses, most of the plants listed were not ones commonly found in my part of the country. It will be an excellent resource for those who live in the area and for those who are new to ethical foraging.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

A Must have for Everyone who loves plants and responsibke harvesting.

I love the detail and care that is taken to teach the reader about the cultural significance of plants and the relationships had with nature over the years, the basics of harvesting, infusing oils and ways to make the dried plants useful in daily life. The lists of needed tools is also fantastic if you are not sure where to start. I also love and practice the mindfulness of being thankful to the plant and the earth for what I am harvesting. Doing this task with gratitude is a great way to respect nature and something I think more people need to do.

Once you are in the plant identification section, the breakdown remains amazing. From learning the Sqamish names of the plants to the recipes this truly is an amazing book to have on hand for a multitude of reasons.

It's so important to move from the appropriation of indigenous knowledge that exists in this area to good representation by those ethnobotanists with lived experience of the cultural significance of this subject.
I do most of my foraging in Scotland, but I know the Pacific NorthWest well.
Concepts like interconnectivity, resilience and identity are explored, alongside practical information about harvesting without harming the ecosystem.
There are also guides to land-based mindfulness and visualisation that will have broader applications.
I really want to try the recipe for candied spruce tips - I often munch on these as I walk, and I think a candied version would make a lovely gift.
The illustrations are lovely and clear.

Note: received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I knew going into this book that I would not know many of the plants which are used in recipes and other daily uses. My relationship with plants are often tropical or in the southeast. However, I not only wanted to get to know the plants of the north west, but also get a perspective from an indigenous author from another tribe than I am used to reading. The first part of the book explains the principles of building relationships with the natural world and sustainably and sacredly harvesting and foraging in your own backyard. I learned more about the authors story, and some Squamish traditions of plants in the section even if I had already heard similar principles for harvesting before. The second half of the book is part field guide part recipe book. Overall I highly recommend this book whether one is new to foraging and harvesting, especially because the author includes warnings for possible, allergies and toxins, or for the experienced person wanting to listen to an indigenous voice, and her relationship with the land around her home.

i would prefer to add no star rating because i did not read the book. downloaded to read the introduction and about-the-author only, and to review the index, to determine if additional copies would be needed to meet interest or to add to the local history & archives collection. content is not hyper-local, so one copy ordered for general nonfiction, none for local history.