“In a gift economy, wealth is understood as having enough to share, and the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away. In fact, status is determined not by how much one accumulates, but by how much one gives away. The currency in a gift economy is relationship, which is expressed as gratitude, as interdependence and the ongoing cycles of reciprocity. A gift economy nurtures the community bonds that enhance mutual well-being; the economic unit is “we” rather than “I” as all flourishing is mutual.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
It looks to me like the Foxtail Barley has a better grasp of the meaning of “We” than we do.
4 Comments
Earl
Here in the U.S., I think a gift economy is mostly theoretical, at least as far as the very rich go. You don’t hear of many of our millionaires or billionaires giving away much more than, to them, a token amount. Only a few, and only on occasion, really give back. Melinda Gates is one who has given back substantially, one of the few, as far as I can recall. For most, it seems the more money they have, the greedier they become.
I love the Backlit Foxtail Barley image!
Monte Stevens
The premise of her book is for the gift economy not based on money. It’s about giving and receiving to our neighbor the extra squash, helping repair their fence after it the wind blows it down, passing on hand-me-down clothes. It seems we need to see economy as sharing what we have, not money. You and I share the gift economy of our ideas, thoughts, and experiences. The wealthy only know of one economy.
geri oster
Oh, this is a magical Foxtail image, so reminds me of the SD farm. And so does this quote and your writings. On the farm, at least in our SE SD small family farm and town economy, it was all about sharing our labor, our time, our casseroles, our care. I am fortunate to live in a neighborhood where we have folks who still have that “gift economy” of care and service of heart and hands. My job is to spread that love and care in the small ways I am able. This Foxtail Community truly does exemplify that mutual benefit economy so beautifully, Monte. Thank you! Blessings.
Monte Stevens
I am glad you like the image. Thank you for sharing the small community lifestyle that you were raise in. I also have memories of that in my childhood. The gift economy is still alive and I believe we can continue to let it develop and grow because in any economic system based on scarcity will collapse. Yes, our job is to share that love and care in small ways. I hope you too are doing well!!