I was raised in the woods of western Massachusetts, not far from here, but my feelings of innate connection to the environment were profoundly altered when I learned the history of this stolen land. Today, we hold a land title rooted in a legal system that views land as property, not as a living entity with inherent rights. Just as olive trees embody Palestinian identity and deep connection to place, pine trees represent Jewish claims and settlement expansion. Just as olive trees embody Palestinian identity and deep connection to place, pine trees represent Jewish claims and settlement expansion. Beyond a means of sustenance, foraging for specific herbs and ingredients represents a cultural connection to the land.