Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille T. Dungy ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

In Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, poet and scholar Camille T. Dungy recounts the seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden in the predominantly white community of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2023; Simon & Schuster; 978-1982195304
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); memoir

As a naturalist, I'm always looking for stories about how people connect with the natural world around them. Whether that be re-wilding an area, learning to live off the land, or just intentionally going outside to feel the soil beneath your feet and breathe in the fresh forest air. Growing up reading the likes of Aldo Leopold and John Muir, I now look for the female voices. 

I was drawn to Soil because it is written by a black woman, and I was interested in her perspective. Most of the nature activities I go to are largely attended by white people, though the last hike I went on had 2 women of color. 

The book immediately reminded me of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and Catherine Raven's Fox & I. 

Dungy discusses more than the plot of land that she is converting from urban lawn to native prairie. She shares a lot about the sense of place. Not just her place in Fort Collins, Colorado, but in her place in the United States as well as in history. 

There were parts of the book that saddened me greatly. Relating her conversation with her elementary-age child following the death of Breonna Taylor, and admitting that there was at least part of her that feared that something similar could happen. 

There were parts I related to - the struggle in the garden and, of course, as a woman in the naturalist world. I agree with her that there needs to be more female voices in the nature writing realm. 

There were also a lot of parts that I hadn't thought about, as they are unique to Dungy but expanded my understanding of the human experience.

It was definitely worth the read. I loved Dungy's writing and storytelling style. I'm going to look for her poetry. I enjoyed her stories about homeschooling her daughter during the pandemic, having to evacuate due to a wildfire, the bunnies in her yard (I once had a bunny with babies in my yard, and as spring draws closer, I'm keeping an eye out for the rabbit that visits at dusk), and the various projects in her garden.

And can I say how much I love this cover? I have a digital copy, but I kind of want to get a print copy just so I can have that cover on my bookshelf.

Buy Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden at Amazon  

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

 

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