Book Review: “The Land in Our Bones”

Review The Land in Our Bones
“The Land in Our Bones:
Plantcestral Herbalism and Healing Cultures from Syria to the Sinai –
Earth-Based Pathways to Ancestral Stewardship and Belonging in Diaspora”
By Layla K. Feghali
North Atlantic Books, 2024
368 pages, paperback, $24.95

The Land in Our Bones by Layla K. Feghali focuses on the plants prevalent in Canaan, the lands between Syria and the Sinai, generally referred to as the Levant. A core theme of the book that many herbalists may be familiar with is that of the concept of “plantcestors,” which are living links to past generations. Through this lens, the book explores how plants serve as repositories of memory and “light up ancient parts of us.”

Feghali provides a rich exploration of how specific plants are intertwined with cultural rituals, historical events, and familial traditions. She examines how plants, like the olive tree, known as Zeitoon, and with a whole chapter dedicated to it, and various herbs, are not just food sources but also emblems of historical resilience, especially for children of the Lebanese diaspora like herself. The book is categorized by the memories and tales of plant connections that grow out of her own family’s medicinal uses of these plants as well as ancestral recipes for culturally significant foods she has cooked and eaten.

There are many plants discussed that we commonly see in current day herbal books reviewed in The MOF&G, such as rose and hawthorn, but then others, like caper, black calla lily, and carob, are rarely mentioned. Feghali includes a great deal of historical notations on the findings of various plants in ancient records and archaeological excavations, which lends even more information to her poetic and lengthy descriptions of the uses and historical relevance of each plant.

The book is divided into four separate parts, with multiple chapters within each, that are woven together fluidly. Each section is rich enough to be a book in itself. Not only are specific plants discussed throughout the book but in “Part III: Matriarchal Medicines: Tending the Life in Front of Us” she writes in depth about specific herbs related to birth and postpartum care (including practices like steams and massaging with olive oil).

For readers not only interested in plant medicine but also themes of diaspora, identity, and cultural heritage, “The Land in Our Bones” is a must-read. Feghali’s insights into how the effects of colonization and one’s disconnection and reconnection to the land shape personal identities offer readers a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those living between multiple worlds.

Denise DeSpirito, Of the Spirit Herbals, Lincolnville, Maine

This review was originally published in the winter 2024 issue of The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener. Browse the archives for free content on organic agriculture and sustainable living practices.

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