The Cleveland County Jail in Oklahoma has started a gardening program with the county commissioners, sheriff's office, and local businesses. The program aims to teach inmates gardening skills and help them contribute to the community while promoting sustainability, as reported by the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office.
On the first planting day, inmates and community leaders worked together to plant seeds in new garden plots using materials from Prairie Dirt Solutions and Eco Wood Solutions. In the next weeks, they will grow spinach, kale, radishes, cucumbers, squash, and beans. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office said on social media that the activities are meant to provide skills and purpose to the participants.
According to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office on their Facebook page, Susan Bergen, a business leader and sustainability advocate involved in the project, said, "This is more than a garden—it’s a living classroom." The project supports justice, environmental care, and second chances for inmates. A Garden Ceremony with Governor Kevin Stitt will take place on September 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the county jail. The event will include a ribbon-cutting and an open viewing of the garden.
