Humans vs. Planet Earth
Humanity has reached the point where we no longer seem to be seamlessly integrated into the natural world. Every aspect of society that defines humanity is unnatural and enforced. People do no interact with nature anymore, but instead seem to dominate it. It is becoming clearer with each passing day this transformation is not really working out too well relative to the future of humanity. The book pursues a theme that if human went back to respecting the natural world around them and interacting with it for the purpose of benefiting both sides of the equations, we would be the ones better off for the effort.
A History of Indigenous North Americans
Directly speaking, a major theme pursued by the author is the displacement of the knowledge of indigenous North American tribes from the history of America. Peppered throughout the book are references to myths and legends of these tribes which are then integrated into real world application of dealing with nature. This coerced and forced relocation and annihilation of culture, language and intellectual advancement over arriving oppressive colonizers is inextricable from the overall thematic patina exploring how humanity always and inevitably devastates anything new which comes under jurisdiction as almost a matter of course.
Wanted: Planet to Work 24/7 for Minimum Wage
What is really at work in this text is, ultimately, a call for the application of the Golden Rule. Rather than getting all biblical, however, let’s update the Golden Rule to the modern vernacular: if you really want to get something, you have to be willing to give an equal amount. This rule is applied to the lessons herein: one can only expect to receive from sweetgrass what one is willing to offer it. Extension: if you really want to eat corn that is as delicious as you remember eating as a child, then you need to be willing to make the effort to search out corn that was grown the way it was when you were a kid. Likewise, if you want to react to the taste of pineapple the way that people do in movies, then realize you cannot be satisfied by buying it a can.
The way that every food naturally produced on earth is treated between germination and dinner table determines the level of satisfaction. Do not expect what can be grown and nurtured to treat you like a king if it has been treated like a pawn. Humans can only expect to receive from this planet the height of what it is offering (not just in terms of food, but every aspect of modern existence) if it is treated likewise in return. Exploitation of resources is not limited merely to low wages and long hours. Don’t expect planet Earth to be any happier about working 24 hours a day for minimum wage than you would be.
