The teaching garden
For the past two years I have taught horticulture classes each spring to a group of inmates at the Garland County Detention Center. These are inmates who have outside working privileges. You have probably seen them many times helping keep our community clean by working along the roads, picking up trash.
This began around two years ago when
Capt. Belinda Cosgrove, from the Garland County Sheriff’s Department, contacted me about the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service teaching horticulture classes to inmates at the then “new” detention center. Cosgrove and I met and put together a plan, but there was still a need for someone to help facilitate this program. We needed someone to help organize and pick up supplies and have it ready for each work day.
Along came the perfect person for the job, Sue Hale. Mrs. Sue, as the inmates call her, is a retired public school educator who volunteers her time to this project and many more at the detention center and has been the glue that holds this project together. I can’t thank her enough for all the many hours she has volunteered on this project. I would also like to thank Sheriff Mike McCormick for all his support; without it, this project would not have been possible.
We began in the classroom by teaching basic soil and plant sciences related to producing a vegetable garden. Then, when planting time came around for summer vegetables, we moved outside to a garden we affectionately call the “The Teaching Garden.” We work one morning a week, sometimes two, if needed. We begin each morning with work assignments, including weeding, tilling, planting, watering and harvesting, along with hands-on training about any problem we may encounter, such as weed, insect or disease. At the end of the one and onehalf to two hour work period, we gather around the tailgate of the pickup, sometimes called the “County Extension Agent’s classroom,” and recap the work accomplished and have a question and answer session.
The produce is given to either local food banks or to the detention kitchen each week. We have harvested corn, squash, zucchini, okra, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers and tomatoes. This year we have also planted many pumpkins in the garden.
The tomatoes in our garden are part of a demonstration project with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. We have four varieties of tomatoes, three indeterminate and one determinate. Half of each variety is pruned and the other half is not pruned. The tomatoes have been harvested multiple times, weighed and graded for quality, and then recorded to help determine any benefits of pruning. Thanks to three Garland County Master Gardeners who are working very hard on the tomato project weighing and recording the information.
I would like to invite anyone who is interested in seeing our tomato demo or the teaching garden to a public Field Day 9 a.m. Friday at the detention center at 3564 Albert Pike Road. If you would like more information about the Field Day, come by our office at 236 Woodbine or call
501-623-6841.
Being an educator, it is very rewarding to work with these men, providing skills that may help them someday find a job they enjoy and become a productive member of their community.
For more information, call County Agent Allen Bates at 6236841 or email abates@uaex.edu. Master Gardener
If interested in gardening, the public is welcome to attend the monthly Master Gardener meeting held at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Lake Valley Community Church. For information, call the Extension office or email abates@uaex.edu.
EHC Interested in joining an Extension Homemakers Club? How about forming a new club in your community? For information, call the Extension office or email Jessica Vincent at jvincent@uaex.edu.
4-H
If between the ages of 5 and
19, you can join 4-H. There is a club for you, or you and a group of friends can organize a club. For information, call the Extension office or email lbates@uaex.edu.