Grace from the Garden

When was the last time someone started a grassroots campaign that actually involved roots--and seeds, and garden trowels? Grace form the garden tells the story of 20 gardeners across the country who were inspired to use their garden for a greater purpose. Among the stories featured: A couple in Maine honored their departed spouses by transforming their 8 acres into a lush garden they share with residents of local nursing homes who come to enjoy music, food, and the beauty of the outdoors. In Spokane, Washington, juvenile detention officers have developed a unique program in which juvenile offenders work off community service hours in a local vegetable garden, learning to support others rather than take from them. Alabama's Garden Angel program pairs a gardener with an elderly couple. The gardener plants their garden, then helps them maintain and harvest the summer bounty. They stay self-sufficient, receive much-needed food and gain a friendship that extends far beyond the garden. These stories may inspire others with the important message that the simple act of gardening truly can change the world, one garden at a time.