Buffs One Read

The CU Boulder Buffs One Read fosters intellectual community and cultural exchange among students, faculty, and staff.

It establishes a unifying theme for the year that serves as a basis for classroom discussion, programming, social and civic development, and connection to campus.

Join us

Read this year's title, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Get a copy

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge & the Wisdom of Plants

Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Wisdom of Plants weaves scientific and indigenous knowledge to make the case that living on the earth is a reciprocal relationship in which other beings such as asters, turtles and sweetgrass are our companions, teachers and fellow travelers.

Published in 2013 and a New York Times bestseller, this non-fiction book of essays was selected by a committee of students, staff and faculty from a short list that included a range of genres, including fiction and poetry.

Learn more about the book

About the author

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. As a writer and a scientist, her interests in restoration include not only restoration of ecological communities, but restoration of our relationships to land.

More about Robin Wall Kimmerer

Bring the conversation into the classroom

The University of Colorado Boulder invites all educators to integrate Braiding Sweetgrass into your courses.

Integrate content from our Buffs One Read Community Canvas Course where you can explore summaries of each chapter as well as discussion questions and related resources. The course includes activities and prompts that invite students to delve more deeply into the rich themes of the text.
Contact the University Libraries for consultations on integrating Braiding Sweetgrass into your courses. Email libraries@colorado.edu to schedule a time to speak with us.
View our guide on Braiding Sweetgrass for additional related resources and rich related content.

Resources for educators

Our community Canvas course is open for use - feel free to copy or repurpose

Access the Canvas course

Extend the conversation beyond the classroom

Are you going to host your own Buffs One Read event?

Please let us know so we can highlight it on the guide and course. Ask your Events Admin to tag the event in the campus calendar with buffs1read.

Recent stories about Buffs One Read

Help the Libraries build a poem for National Poetry Month

Come to Norlin’s East Entrance April 12 and 13, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to take part in a community poem writing activity, take away a pocket poem and engage with librarians.