In-Prison Programming

In 2011, Garden Time co-founders Kate Lacouture and Vera Bowen worked with a group of inmates at the men’s maximum-security facility at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions to build a garden in an empty section of prison yard. Since then, we have added two more gardens within the complex, and trained some 300 incarcerated men and women to become skilled gardeners. While producing thousands of pounds of produce for use in the prison kitchens, Garden Time participants have also gained self-confidence, a positive outlook, and a completely new connection to nature. More recently, we have added the Garden Time to Work pre-employment program, offering important life skills and job training for the green industry. Most recently, we have added a reentry planning and support component, a natural extension of our work to help guide students toward continued growth.

“Not too many people give us a chance but here, in the garden, we’re just normal people, being productive, learning new skills, and bringing life to the earth.” – A Garden Time gardener