On the face of it, it would seem that Sam and Curtis don't have an awful lot in common. Sam is an elderly Jewish gentleman and Curtis is a young African-American; Sam is a fairly unprepossessing individual and Curtis is a physically strong, imposing presence in the neighborhood.
But in keeping with the overall theme of the novel, their shared commitment to making a success of the community garden brings them together, giving them a common purpose in life which they otherwise wouldn't have. In the process, Curtis's proximity to the soil brings him down to earth, both literally and figuratively, giving him a much-needed sense of humility. As for Sam, his feet have long been planted firmly in the soil, so to speak. He's always approached the world in a spirit of humility, always striving to make it a better place. What he's now trying to do in this little corner of a rough neighborhood in Cleveland is a microcosm of what he's been attempting his whole adult life: to get people to talk to each other.
Sam is a seventy-eight year old Jewish man who spends his life promoting peace and attempting to bring different individuals together. Since Sam is too old to work in the garden, he hires and pays a Puerto Rican boy to do the work. Curtis is twenty-eight years old and is known throughout the community for his massive muscles. Curtis begins planting tomatoes to show his ex-girlfriend, Lateesha, that he still has feelings for her. After noticing that some people have been stealing his tomatoes, Curtis gives a homeless teenager named Royce the job of protecting his plants in exchange for some food and a sofa to sleep on. Although Sam is much older than Curtis and they do not share the same race or reasons for working in the community garden, both characters are caring, sensitive individuals. Both characters also help other people in the community by giving them jobs. Similar to how Sam pays the Puerto Rican boy to work in the garden, Curtis gives Royce the job of protecting his plants.
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