Through bad dirt good seeds can grow

Behind the Work Release Center a small garden has been slowly taking shape. Planted about five weeks ago, corn, onions, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and all the usual suspects are growing despite the lack of water. Each evening the garden is tended by dedicated volunteers. They are watering and weeding, learning and leading, and it’s a new role for many of them; these new gardeners are offenders in the work release program.

Work Release Asst. Director James Wuchner and Work Release Supervisor Tammy Lampert dreamed of having a community garden for the residents for several years. The two worked with Charles Fleming, the Corrections Officers Supervisor, to finally move forward with the project in May.

Wuchner recently lost his battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma but he was able to see the garden come to life before his passing.

The hope is that working in the garden and witnessing the garden’s growth might have a greater impact than just tasty vegetables. According to Lampert that impact is already apparent as the residents at the Work Release Center see the success of the growing plants. “I hold onto every one of my successes here and I see it,” she said. “They are getting it.”

Several offenders have stepped forward as the “master gardeners” and now are looked at as the leaders of the project. It’s a strange role for them to manage the garden activities and answer questions from the younger offenders. One of the six, Jerry Frick, a long time gardener, says it’s a new feeling. “It’s kinda weird for us,” he laughed, “to be in charge of something.”

Another of the group, John Adkins, feels good about providing food for the community through the hard work and skills he has cultivated through the years. “We’re not bad people, we made bad choices and the courts deemed us fit to be here,” he said. “It is nice to be able to give back to the community.”

The growing garden is affecting this core group too. Another of the six, Jeff Ferguson, says he is here for the same reason many of the inmates are; addictions. He has a degree in horticulture and says the garden is therapeutic for him and the others. “Most of us in here are suffering from addiction,” he explains, “that’s a daily struggle. Seeing a long term goal happen brings forth a sense of accomplishment.”

Besides Ferguson, Adkins and Frick, the group includes Aaron Atkins, Paul Heeke and Marty Mundy. They leave little notes for Lampert to pick up hose parts, posts, insecticides and various odds and ends each day. Fortunately local businesses and staff family members have donated tools, seeds, money, time and advice to make the program possible; so many donations in fact that no tax payer money has been necessary for the program.

Those donors include; Lampert’s own dad and brothers, the City of Jasper, Green Thumb, Meny’s True Value, Wal-Mart and Big Lots among others.

The garden has become a center point for conversation and interest in the corrections center.  “The window blinds that are normally closed are open now,” Lampert explains. “Everyone wants to see how the garden is coming along.”

This interest has bled over to the guards who have extended their duties to include watching over the residents as they work in the garden and increasing their vigilance to ensure the program’s success. “We would like to personally thank the guards for taking the time and effort with us to make this a success,” Ferguson said.

In the end the offenders are excited about tasting the food from the garden but even more exciting and satisfying is seeing the garden grow. Solving problems and learning new skills, rather than sitting around and watching TV in the center, has invigorated a few of the residents. According to Lampert, Jerry Frick is a great example of this new attitude. “He has been in and out of here a lot since I have worked here,” she said. “And it seems that this is something he really cares about.”

On top of the lack of skills, lack of water, and lack of time to work in the garden, Lampert says another factor has had to be overcome. “Kenny Eck from the Purdue Extension tested our dirt,” she said, “and he couldn’t believe the success we have had in such a short time. The dirt is horrible.”

But through the bad dirt good seeds will grow.

Here is a progression of the garden. Click on them to see full size images.