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This post was contributed by the East Haddam Land Trust

Leaf by leaf, East Haddam Land Trust likes to offer new, engaging ways for people to enjoy, appreciate, and learn about the natural world around us.

Recently, the land trust has done just that — with books and other natural science writings — in a monthly reading group that is free and open to the public. This partnership between EHLT and East Haddam Library System has not only created a fellowship of individuals but also a stronger collaborative spirit among agencies in town.

Words from the Woods book circle began its meetings at a town library in the fall of 2024. It has since flourished, attracting most of the participants from East Haddam but also drawing from nearby communities, including Colchester and East Hampton.

“We have new people come to the book circle who don’t necessarily come to the hikes or any other of the events sponsored by the land trust,” said Joene Hendry, EHLT’s board president. “The book circle builds community by engaging those interested in deepening their knowledge of nature through reading and sharing conversations about the readings.”

The notion to create a book group began with EHLT board member Gaynell Meij, who first approached the director of East Haddam’s library system.  Evelyn Morgen was delighted, opening doors to the idea and then helping to organize.

“I’ve wanted a non-fiction meeting group for quite a long time,” said Gaynell, who takes part in another book circle and in retreats, including those at Mercy by the Sea in Madison, CT, Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, and New York’s Omega Institute. “I love to have people have deeper conversations about Great Nature and the ecologies we’re in.”

All book selections are made by participants, well in advance of meetings. Copies of the books are usually available at the East Haddam library. 

Gaynell opens the meetings and often guides discussion, which is free-flowing and encourages both listening and talking. People who have not read or finished the books are welcome. Reading has included “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.  Some books under consideration are: “Stirring the Mud: On Swamps, Bogs, and Human Imagination,” by Barbara Hurd; “Is A River Alive?” by Robert Macfarlane; and “Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine,” by Alan Lightman. 

Today, Words from the Woods has moved to a larger space to accommodate anywhere from a dozen to 18 or more participants. Attendance is fluid, with no requirements. People meet in the community room of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 31 Main St., East Haddam — across the street from Rathbun Free Memorial Library —  from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. every third Monday of the month. (In January and February, the time changes to the second Mondays of those months to avoid federal holidays. Also, the book group takes a summer break in July and August.)

“It looks like we’re going to keep rocking on,” Gaynell said. “People seem to enjoy it and are reading in ways they haven’t before. So that’s nice.”

Joene is among regular attendees. 

“It’s a group of people who are like-minded, who have intense curiosity about nature — all aspects of it and our connection to it,” she said. “There’s just a wealth of ideas and experiences and interest. It’s really a lovely little community that we have.”

For more info on Words from the Woods, see: ehlt.org/book-circle.