CANTON, New York (WWNY) – It has been a bountiful growing season for inmates who tend the garden at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton. And that’s good news for the people who get to eat the fresh produce.
“Beautiful tomatoes. Soft to touch. Ready for some bacon and lettuce,” said Connie Jenkins, Church and Community Program director.
Before the tomatoes at the Church and Community Program Food Pantry find a home between two slices of bread, they were grown, picked, packaged, and put into a car by a group of 5 inmates who help keep the garden alive
“The success of the program wouldn’t exist without them. They enjoy being out here and they work very hard,” said Michael Perry, programs director, St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility.
It’s year two of the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility garden program, growing fruits and veggies.
Perry says so far, they’ve tripled the output compared to last year. That’s roughly 5 tons of produce. He expects another 2 tons by the end of the season.
“We’re helping people that need help,” he said.
Tuesdays and Fridays, the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging picks up part of what the inmates harvested from the garden. It then goes to feed the elderly population through programs like Meals on Wheels.
The rest is delivered to the Church and Community Program that feeds more than 500 people with its pantry.
“We count ourselves incredibly lucky to get it. Fresh food is exactly what we want to give our families and what they look forward to, and it comes to us. They grow it, they pick it, they clean it, they package it, and they deliver it. It could not be more helpful,” said Jenkins.
By the end of the season, $25,000 worth of produce will be grown in the jail’s garden and given to the community free of charge.
Perry hopes that with the changes made to the garden, they can increase food production by 50 percent next year, as long as the weather cooperates.
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