ASHLAND, Ky. — An eastern Kentucky detention center recently expanded its inmate garden, growing a now six-acre area into a stable, substantial enterprise.

The additional four acres were leased to the Boyd County Detention Center by a local organization at no cost.

A release from the BCDC noted the expansion would help the jail not only save more money on its food services budget, but also allow an increase in its donations to area food banks.  

The center is reimbursed for the food grown via Kellwell Food Management, its service contractor. In 2016, the total amount billed to Kellwell was $2,584.77.

This year, the inmates are planting three acres of sweet corn, 1.5 acres of green beans, a 1⁄2 acre of Zucchini, one acre of pumpkins and 200 tomato plants. Approximately half of it has been planted so far, with staggered plantings planned so the produce doesn’t all mature at the same time.  

This year, the BCDC expects to sell about $7,500 worth of vegetables to Kellwell, which would triple the amount of income generated in 2016 and reduce their food expenses by just over two percent.

Boyd County Jailer Joe Burchett called the garden a “win-win situation” for not only the jail, but for the four inmates who are tasked with the planting, maintenance and harvesting labor through the jail’s inmate work program.

“They keep exercised and they stay focused and it gives them a little bit of pride in what they’re doing,” he said, also pointing out that it gives them structure.

In recent years, a number of jail and prison gardens have been developed in cities and states across the country, offering inmates opportunities to develop new skills and become more responsible while also offering fresh, nutritional options to the communities their gardens serve.

The BCDC garden is also a help to the local community, with no expense to taxpayers. All seeds, fertilizer and garden equipment (tractor, implements, power and hand tools, etc.) were purchased with proceeds from the inmate commissary fund. All food grown is served to jail inmates and donated to local food banks.  

The jail has also expanded their pumpkin patch from last year. The pumpkins are used for their annual Jailhouse Harvest Festival.  

Lt. Gus Guzman, who is over the garden program, said the inmates are usually out working four days a week. He touched on how beneficial the program is, saying it gives them a sense of being outside in addition to a providing them with a work ethic.

“I feel like being out here helps them grow along with doing hard work,” he said, adding it also gives all the inmates a higher quality of food.

Adkins writes for the Ashland, Kentucky Daily Independent.