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Rock County Jail inmates garden for food pantries

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Members of a RECAP work crew put tomato plants into the ground at the Community Gardens on the county complex. The inmates work in a garden whose produce will help supply fresh vegetables to area food banks.

JANESVILLE — Joel Abbott kneeled over the soil, spaded a hole and buried a tomato plant in a garden row outside the Rock County Jail.

The inmate was wearing his brown jailhouse uniform and working under the watchful eyes of a sheriff's sergeant, but he felt free outside on the sunny, 70-degree day.

"It's better than being inside all day long," he said. "I like looking at all the different kinds of plants, getting outside and working."

Abbott, 19, is one of several RECAP inmates who grow vegetables and fruits in the jail's gardening program. Forty-four inmates sprouted and donated 4,300 pounds of produce to food pantries in 2008.

The gardening program has become so successful that it was scheduled weekly into the RECAP program, which includes inmates with substance-abuse problems, county officials said. And Huber inmates without jobs soon will work in the garden.

"They're so proud of what they're doing out here," Sgt. Laurie Sprecher said. "They're doing a good day's work and accomplishing something positive."

Rock County UW Extension and the master gardener program teach inmates about gardening. They work in a half-acre of soil off Highway 14 east of the jail. Inmates grow everything from tomatoes, lettuce and potatoes to peppers, asparagus and strawberries.

"We long ago realized that this is not about teaching them gardening," said Mike Maddox, Rock County UW Extension's horticulture educator. "This is about working together, teamwork and working independently."

The garden is a safe environment for inmates, Maddox said, and inmates talk about their kids, wives and families while working.

"It becomes kind of a reflection time," he said.

Inmates were planting 200 tomatoes Wednesday morning. They had 100 different varieties, two of each.

"I didn't know there were this many tomato plants," Abbott said. "You learn a lot out here."

Steve, an inmate who declined to provide his last name, said he has worked in the garden five or six times. He said he has learned about mulching, rototillers and prep work.

"After I accomplish something, I feel good," Steve said. "Instead of resorting to drugs or alcohol or fighting or whatever got you in here, you get a hobby."