Gardening Behind Bars

County jails from Colorado to Florida are facing mounting deficits. Some are releasing inmates early and others are considering closing specific jails altogether. One Ohio jail is cutting costs by asking inmates to pick up a shovel, plant some seeds, and work for their food.

Prison gardens are nothing new. Inmates at the San Francisco County Jail have been gardening since 1982. Their produce goes to local farmers’ markets and community centers. But in Sandusky County, Ohio the tomatoes, green beans, and carrots don’t travel further than the jail’s kitchen. In order to help cut costs, Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer came up with the idea of converting an acre and a half of unused outdoor space into a garden.

(Photo by Shelley&Dave via Flickr/Creative Commons)