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Format: Kindle Edition
Judge Lemery has written before about his work as mentor with
young men incarcerated at the juvenile prison in the community where his family
has been rooted for generations. I had previously read, appreciated, and
recommended widely his "Mentoring Boys to Men: Climbing Their Own
Mountains."
This new collection of short, powerful essays and poetry took
me by surprise, nevertheless. I found myself moved to tears, uplifted,
inspired, and even sometimes exalted as I read. I devoured "Tomatoes"
in one sitting. These musings will inspire readers to look with new eyes at
their own backyards and to dream of new ways to take action as peacemakers in
our own communities.
Something of a soul brother to the philosopher, scientist,
writer, gardener and mystic, Rudolf Steiner (founder of the Waldorf School
movement and of biodynamic gardening) Lemery truly believes in the inherent
goodness and limitless potential of each person he meets. He is certain of the
value of education as key to unlocking that potential. He understands that
Nature can be our wisest and most gentle teacher and healer. These things shine
through from these pages even as they illumine the hearts and paths of the
young men whom Lemery befriends.
Lemery's essays, like the parables of Jesus,
are grounded in the most "ordinary" of human experiences:
observations of plants and of birds, simple gestures of kindness offered to
those who have been left wounded on the margins of life, zen-like questions
about what we truly value.
The most powerful essays are those where Lemery lets
us enter his "secret garden" at the OYA. We are privileged to be
there with him as he cooks, gardens, plays cards, laughs and sometimes cries
with --but most of all listens to -- these young men, some of them serving long
years in prison for offenses committed as juveniles.
We are allowed to share
Lemery's sorrow at how much betrayal, neglect and suffering too many children
endure. And then we discover with him that seeds of Hope are miraculously still
present, even in the dark, cold winter soil of these lives -- just waiting for
the warmth of kind attention and rays of compassion in order to grow and to
reach for the Light.
This book encourages us to remember that we can each
create something beautiful, something that will nourish others and ourselves,
through the work of our own hands, provided we value and sharpen our unique
gifts that are our "garden tools."
Highly
recommended for teens, teachers, counselors, parents, social workers, book
groups...and, of course, gardeners!
Homegrown Tomatoes is available as an e-book from Amazon
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