I reached out to meet Tom Pavich years ago at Natural Products Expo West. I knew he was from a family of second-generation farmers. I knew they had a dream: to grow grapes as healthy as Mother Nature intended. His family did this because they cared for people and what became of living soil.
In spring of '99 I was invited to add plant and flower ambiance to the Third International Feng Shui Conference. We created an Enchanted Garden exhibit. I did my work, which I call "planting seed dreams." This work involves planting seeds of success. I encourage others to write out dreams they will be harvesting, plant seeds in soil, and connect the growth of the dream with "Plant Parenthood." Plant Parenthood is the education we receive through tending the plant.
I also wanted a hospitality area where
I could share the produce of the seed dreams, and fruits of the labor, of people I admired. I called Tom. He sent me a case of his finest raisins to give away. On that trip I gave one can to Alex Stark. He wanted to plant a seed with the intention that his teen-age daughter Adriana would grow safe and sound, and be all she could be, in her Brooklyn neighborhood, without too much interference from mom and
dad.
I gave Alex seeds from a Job's Tears plant to give to Adriana. I've named these "Life Fulfillment Seeds." They came with a blessing. As she grew the seeds, the plant would remind her how to grow in harmony with nature. As a gesture of appreciation for growing her own inner and outer garden, I sent along some Pavich organic raisins.
Three months later Adriana wrote back and thanked me for the plant, saying itwas growing tall and shooting seeds of its own. She added, "One last thing--my parents ate the raisins you gave me before I got to make cookies."
Months passed before I got another note. Adriana was accepted into the Rainbow program for the gifted at Middle School 51. The note came with
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16 seeds and a message that she had saved the rest for new spring planting. "Well, yours till the Job grows," she signed off.
I was grateful for the seeds. I also thought those cookies deserved to be baked. So did Tom. When I saw him at this year's Natural Products Expo West, he wrote "Best of Luck" and "Plant your Dream!" wishes for Adriana on another can of raisins.
He follow ed this up with raisin snack packs for her schoolmates and some for hungry mom and dad.Along with the raisins, I sent this note: "Adriana, we live in a world where it is truly possible to make raisin cookies, and there is always the possibility that someone is going to eat our raisins before we make them. "Sometimes there are disappointments when we plant dreams. All the things that stand between us and our dreams coming true are a gift from life. We can grow through all the things that happen to us. Keep planting dreams.
"Forgive the little things. We also live in a world where there are people who live from passion, and who take time to hear us and wish us the best. Iwant to encourage you to become naturally abundant in everything you do. Keep coming from a place of heart and soul. Stay kind and generous.
"Here are more raisins from my friend Tom, who lives his life this way.
Your Friend, Leslie, your Enchanted Gardener"
Leslie Goldman is the Enchanted Gardener,a voice for the rebirth of Mother Earth. Leslie encourages us
to plant our dreams in harmony with nature.
Do you know a person and project
upholding and expressing the Heart and Soul of the Natural Produce
and Products Industry?
and see:
the Seeds of Life Fulfillment grown
by Leslie Goldman, Your Enchanted
Gardener?
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