What are some facts we are given about Sam in Seedfolks?

To be honest, we aren't actually told that much about Sam
in terms of specific details. His account, however, does allow us to infer the kind of
person that he is and he does tell us something about his past, in particular the kind
of work he has been involved in. The allusions that he makes to the Bible and the way
that he knows the origin of the word paradise indicates that he is an educated man. His
sadness and the way that the communal garden quickly devolves into every man for himself
shows that he is somebody that cares deeply about integration and social equality, and
he is clearly a talkative person who likes to get to know
people.

Sam tells us he is 78 and that he likes to
challenge prejudices, talkign to people so that they can see he is "friendly, no matter
what they've heard about whites or Jews." His goal is "Sewing up the rips in the
neighbourhood," which is of course very similar to what he used to do
before:

I
used to try to patch up the whole world. For thirty-six years I worked for different
groups, promoting world government, setting up conferences on pacifism, raising money,
stuffing envelopes.

Now, Sam
has "switched battlefields," trying to continue the same work but focusing on this
communal garden.