Musings of a Mediocre Gardener [Hardcover]

Dori Dana Hudson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2006

This beautiful collection of reflections extols the many gifts of gardening. For master gardeners or would-be gardeners, whether you are growing flowers in pots or an acre of vegetables, every garden yields lessons for life and spiritual nourishment. As Dori Dana Hudson reflects on everything from the purpose of chili peppers to the tenacity of cherry tomatoes, she shares insights that warm our hearts with familiar toils, feed our need to connect with Creation, and remind us that the bounty of the Lord is for all to partake.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"God loves gardens, and it was no accident the world began with one! Dori Dana Hudson loves gardens too, and her juicy, thoughtful meditations about her own little patch of earth will nourish your soul."

—Cindy Crosby, author of By Willoway Brook: Exploring the Landscape of Prayer

"‘I like to think this is a book about living faithfully,’ writes Dori Dana Hudson. The modesty and purposefulness of that statement explain much of the charm of this suite of short essays. Each is inspired by time spent in the garden she tends for her local food pantry, and together they witness to the wisdom to be harvested from everyday experience, as well as the joy to be found in nature and in participating in ‘God’s ongoing creation.’"

—Aina Barten, features editor, Orion Magazine

About the Author

Dori Dana Hudson is a Methodist minister in St. Louis. She and her husband have lived in various places across the United States and around the world. She was awarded "Writer of the Year" in nonfiction by the Friends of Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, in 1994

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 119 pages
• Publisher: Chalice Press (February 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0827223331
• ISBN-13: 978-0827223332
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,333,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will want one for each of your friends............, March 6, 2006

By 

Ann Smallwood - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Musings of a Mediocre Gardener (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful new book. It is not only good reading for gardeners, but also for those who are not. Each "musing" is short and straight forward. And each one leads the reader to think about how they contribute in their own community. Each thought brings a smile as a simple observation takes on a wider implication, and gives the reader a clearer understanding of ones own purpose.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing response to my book, September 1, 2006

By 

Dori Dana Hudson "Dori, also known as Rev. Dori" (St. Louis MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Musings of a Mediocre Gardener (Hardcover)

August 2006

Dear Readers,
It has now been six months since my book Musings of a Mediocre Gardener came on the market, and it has been an amazing and gratifying experience to be its author.

Last week a friend told me that she had received a wonderful note from her neighbor thanking her for the book and saying how much she liked it. My friend went on to say that her neighbor has inoperable cancer and only a few months left to live. She said "I wanted to give her something, but didn't know what until I read your book. I thought that she might connect with your stories about life. I'm glad that she liked it so much."

My exercise class, which is largely composed of women in their 60's, 70's, and 80's, has been very supportive of me and my book. They are wonderful role models because they continue to use and cherish each day. At the end of each class, our teacher has made it a habit to read one of the essays from my book. She says "It brings a spiritual dimension to class that was missing before. These stories make you think, and everyone can relate to them.

Recently we purchased a home after living in a rented apartment for the past 5 years. We chose the house because it has an established vegetable garden and many perennial flowers. I am eager to again get my hands in the dirt, to again be a part of the continuing creation, to again have the wonderful taste of home-grown vegetables, but mostly to again have a time when my mind can wander and be filled with the wonder of life. I am eager to be blessed again by a garden

I pray that you too will be blessed by these stories, and may all the seeds that you plant and nourish both in your garden and in life grow, bloom, and bring in a harvest.

Shalom, Dori Dana Hudson, author