Inmates at the Starke County Jail are getting a jump on this year’s garden. Warden Phil Cherry says they planted 15 flats of flower and vegetable seeds this week. Right now they’re in a hallway at the jail and will be moved into the greehouses behind the facility once they get a little bit bigger.
This will be the second year of the garden program. Inmates tend the plants, pull weeds, make sure everything is adequately watered and assist with the harvest. Fruits and vegetables grown by the inmates are prepared in the kitchen and served as part of their meals. Last year surplus items were donated to local nursing homes.
The county’s efforts were recently recognized by the Indiana Department of Correction, which presented the facility it’s Heartland Award. The Starke County garden program received the most votes of any facility in the state in a Facebook contest.
In addition to tending crops, inmates also look after 36 chickens, which produce 20 or so eggs daily.
