Prison garden program grows into something special

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December 19, 2011

Katie Brandenburg The Independent The Daily Independent Mon Dec 19, 2011, 12:25 PM EST

ASHLAND — Prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland have been growing produce at the prison’s garden for about 12 years. For the last three they have been sending the crops grown there to Ashland’s River Cities Harvest to be distributed to organizations that feed those in need.

Bob Owen, executive director of the organization, said while there’s no indication the program will not continue as it has next year, a new warden will be coming to FCI in January. Owen is planning on starting a letter-writing campaign to express the importance of the program to the new official.

Jerry Miller oversaw the prison garden program for five years before he retired in October. He worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 25 years and was the construction supervisor at FCI Ashland.

Miller said the garden usually produces about 60,000 pounds of food each year, and about 40,000 had already been produced and donated when he retired.

He began work on the prison garden about five years ago as an extra duty in addition to work as construction supervisor. Miller has a background in farming. His father and grandfather raised cattle and had a home garden.

“I just grew up doing it,” he said.

Originally, the produce grown at the FCI prison garden was raised to feed inmates there. About three years ago, however, federal prisons went to a national menu, meaning many of the items grown in the garden couldn’t be used there.

Miller said he talked to Lori Bowling, Boyd County extension agent for horticulture, about ways to keep the garden program going, and she suggested donating the fruits and vegetables to River Cities Harvest.

“I thought the Master Gardener program was good for the inmates and I just hated to see it go away,” he said.

The Master Gardener program helps inmates earn a Master Gardener certificate through work at the garden. The certification can help inmates find employment after they are released, Miller said.

The program was also a good experience for inmates who were from rural areas, putting them into a familiar environment.

“It was kind of good therapy for them,” he said.

It also gave inmates from more urban areas a chance to learn a new skill in addition to providing food to those in need, Miller said.

“I think it’s really good for the community,” he said.

Miller said he hopes the garden program continues to be a fixture at FCI Ashland.

To learn more about RCH and the FCI prison garden program, visit the RCH website at rivercitiesharvest.org or call (606) 324-3663.

KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

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