Mister Owita’s Guide To Gardening

Publisher Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, March 4, 2014

A true story of a unique friendship between two people who had nothing—and ultimately everything—in common.

Carol Wall, a white woman living in a lily-white neighborhood in Middle America, was at a crossroads in her life. Her children were grown; she had successfully overcome illness; her beloved parents were getting older. One day she notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbor’s yard. His name is Giles Owita. He bags groceries at the supermarket. He comes from Kenya. And he’s very good at gardening.
Before long, Giles is transforming not only Carol’s yard, but also her life. Though they are seemingly quite different, a caring bond begins to grow between them. But they both hold long-buried secrets that, when revealed, will cement their friendship forever.

“Carol Wall’s disarming memoir Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening is a poignant tale of an unlikely teacher and a doubting student, who, by bringing a neglected patch of ground back to life, reveal the secrets of reclaiming, restoring, and freeing a wounded soul. It is a generous story filled with grace enough to bring healing to the reader as well. An engaging personal and spiritual journey into life’s essential questions.”
— Jonathan Odell, author of The Healing

“This memoir touches upon everything that is important in life. Not only is it beautifully written-I am also in awe of Carol Wall’s raw honesty and incredible courage.”
— Kathleen Grissom, New York Times-bestselling author of The Kitchen House