"I cannot provide more than my labor, but I would at least like to offer . . . "

"I about cried for these gentlemen. Please let them know that I have about 25 to 30 baby tomato plants that I'd love to donate . . . "

If there is anything that I could do to help, even if it is coming over to help them replant, I would be interested in doing so . . . "

"I would like to help them with some money or a coupon that they could use at Home Depot to rebuild their garden . . . "

"I would like to donate whatever it takes to replace these plants . . . "

"My heart goes out to them . . . "

"I have 12 plants in planters. . . . they are welcome to have them . . . "

"I have a greenhouse. I'd like to give them whatever they'd like to have . . . "

-- excerpts from e-mails and phone messages received at the Post-Gazette.

Good is sprouting from bad in the Hazelwood garden tended by Saverio Strati and his brother-in-law, Joseph Staltari.

The elderly men who emigrated 60 or so years ago from Italy would never have guessed it Sunday, when they discovered that vandals had knocked over nearly all of their 400 tomato plants and most of their 300 pepper plants.

Days of work lay flattened on the ground in a quarter-acre parcel along West Elizabeth Street they had been planting for 40 years.

Mr. Strati, 76, and Mr. Staltari, 80, were heartbroken.

But, like the tomato plants they've been working to rescue since Sunday, their spirits are mending. It's thanks to an outpouring of support and sympathy they've received since the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article about the vandalism on Monday.

"My heart is so full. You can't believe the feelings, going from so bad to so good,'' said Mr. Strati.

The men had grown their plants from seeds saved from last year's produce, coaxed them to life in their basements then sheltered them in a greenhouse until the threat of a killing frost was past and they could be planted in the lot just yards from the men's homes.

Mr. Strati said they never before had had problems with vandals.

But, just as surprised as he was by the act of destruction, Mr. Strati has been equally shocked by the expressions of kindness he's received the past few days.

"Someone sent me $50 in today's mail. I couldn't believe it,'' said Mr. Strati. He said he has received a number of other notes and phone calls from people who want to give him money or gift cards and he is discouraging that.

"Thank God, money is not a problem for us. I am telling people to give the money to Meals on Wheels or to the church. I just appreciate that they care,'' he said.

He said he and his brother-in-law, Mr. Staltari, were able to save about 250 of the tomato plants. Though they had been knocked over, their main stalks were not broken. So the men spent most of Sunday afternoon and much of Monday retying the plants to 8-foot stakes.

Mr. Strati is hopeful the plants will mend and yield a bountiful harvest this fall. Even if they don't, though, he said he will remain encouraged to try again next year.

As he put it: "I'm thinking that there is good in what has happened. It is bringing goodness out of people, showing how good people are.

"Even though I feel bad about the tomato plants, I can see by all the kindness I've been shown that not everybody is evil. There are people out there who care. They understand that it's only a garden, but it's something that somebody loved and took care of. They don't know me but they understand and they care."