Kim is a nine-year-old Vietnamese immigrant living in Cleveland. She has never met her father, a farmer who died before she was born. Hoping to draw her father's spirit to her, she sneaks out to a vacant lot to plant six lima beans, acting on a quiet desire to prove her identity to him.

Ana is an elderly Romanian American who has lived in her Gibb Street apartment since 1919. Having spent years working as a typist for the parole board, she views the neighborhood's constant changes with cynicism. Her isolation breaks when her curiosity over Kim's actions prompts her to go outside.

Wendell is a school janitor who grew up on a farm in Kentucky. He carries deep sorrow following the tragic deaths of his wife and son, a burden that leaves him feeling powerless. Encountering Kim's struggling bean plants reconnects him with his agricultural background and gives him a renewed sense of purpose.

Gonzalo is an eighth-grade student and Guatemalan immigrant. Because he learned English quickly from television and school, he carries the heavy responsibility of translating for his father. He views the adults in his family as helpless until he witnesses his great-uncle's expertise in the community garden.

Tίo Juan is an Indigenous Guatemalan man who speaks neither English nor Spanish. In Cleveland, his family treats him like a dependent child because of the language barrier, ignoring his past as a respected farmer. The garden provides him with a space to apply his extensive knowledge and regain his dignity.

Leona is a determined community organizer who draws inspiration from her resilient grandmother in Atlanta. Seeing that the garbage-filled lot prevents more neighbors from participating, she uses her formidable advocacy skills to force city officials into cleaning up the space.

Sam is a 78-year-old Jewish man and retired world peace activist. He views the growing community garden as a potential paradise but quickly notices that people are segregating themselves by race and ethnicity. He actively works to break down these barriers by striking up conversations and organizing problem-solving contests.

Virgil is a fifth-grade student who hopes his father's ambitious plan to grow baby lettuce for restaurants will earn enough money to buy him an 18-speed bicycle. He works hard in the garden but struggles with the summer heat, insect problems, and his father's questionable choices.

Sae Young is a Korean immigrant who runs a dry-cleaning shop. Following the sudden death of her husband and a violent robbery at her business, she has lived in fear and isolation. The garden gives her a safe environment to slowly reconnect with people and share her hot peppers.

Curtis is a young man who recently returned to the neighborhood with hopes of winning back his ex-girlfriend. Moving past his previous vanity, he decides to prove his maturity by growing her favorite beefsteak tomatoes right across from her apartment window.

Nora is a British-born nurse who cares for an elderly stroke survivor. She believes strongly in the therapeutic value of fresh air and outdoor activity. When she notices her patient responding to the garden, she builds a raised planter bed so he can participate.

Mr. Myles is an elderly man who has lost his ability to speak following two strokes. He sits in a wheelchair and often falls asleep during his daily walks. The community garden captures his attention and provides him with a renewed interest in life as he begins planting flowers.

Maricela is a 16-year-old Mexican American high school dropout who is seven months pregnant. She feels intense shame and anger about her situation, viewing the world negatively. She only tends her garden plot because her GED caseworker requires it, but her interactions slowly shift her perspective.

Amir is an Indian immigrant and businessman who misses the bustling communities of his homeland. He observes that Americans tend to avoid each other and stay separated. He uses the garden to break these cultural rules, planting vibrant eggplants that draw neighbors into conversation.

Florence is a retired librarian whose ancestors were formerly enslaved people who settled in Gunnison, Colorado. She refers to these pioneers as her "seedfolks." Due to her arthritis, she cannot dig in the dirt herself, but she adopts the role of a protective watcher.

Virgil's father is a Haitian immigrant who drives a bus and constantly asks his passengers for financial advice. He claims a massive section of the garden to grow baby lettuce for profit, letting his ambition drive him to stretch the truth about his gardening motives.

Miss Fleck is a strict elementary school teacher who treats the adults in the neighborhood much like her students. She enforces rules, questions the gardeners' methods, and represents an authoritative presence in the shared community space.

Royce is a 15-year-old Black teenager who stutters and has run away from an abusive home. Because of his size, many neighbors initially fear him. He takes refuge in the garden and soon begins making quiet, helpful contributions to the space.

Lateesha is an older resident who previously dated Curtis but ended their relationship because of his immaturity. She lives in an apartment overlooking the vacant lot, inadvertently inspiring him to plant tomatoes right where she can see them.

Penny is a caseworker who runs a GED and support program for young expectant mothers. She believes that working in a community garden will help the teens witness the miracle of life, even though her clients actively resist the work.