In its first full year with the benefit of a high tunnel greenhouse, the Texas County Jail garden behind the justice center in Houston was a producing machine.
University of Missouri Master Gardener Verlin Altom – who oversees operation with his wife, Doris – said the garden yielded more than 1,900 pounds of food, just shy of his goal of 2,000. The garden began a few years ago as a fully outdoor set-up, and its production has increased dramatically since the greenhouse was added.
“For its first year, we feel it was very successful,” Altom said.
“The garden program has been fantastic,” Sheriff James Sigman said. “I’m quite happy with what it’s doing, and the Altoms are doing a great job with it. They do so much back there.”
With the Altoms’ guidance, Texas County Jail inmates tend to the garden. In the garden’s three-year existence, 35 trustees have been involved. “The Altoms work very well with the inmates,” Sigman said. “It’s been a good program for them.
“Throughout the community, I hear a lot of positive things about the program. I’ve talked to some other jails about it after some articles have come out about it, and they’re looking at doing the same type of thing.
“It would be nice to see it catch on. It’s all about trying to save a little money, and if you can do something for some of these inmates at the same time, that’s a good thing.”
“We hope the garden has made a difference in some of their lives,” Altom said. “And I know it has, because I’ve seen some very real changes.”
•January/February: Lettuce, mixed greens, radishes, spinach – 90 lbs.
•March/April: Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, mixed greens – 300 lbs.
•April/May: Bok choy, Chinese cabbage, green cabbage, early squash – about 450 lbs.
•May/June: Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, squash, carrots, beets, green beans, onions – about 500 lbs.
•July/August: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, green beans, spinach, okra – about 500 lbs.
•October/November/December: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, Bok choy, Chineses cabbage, green cabbage, broccoli – about 150 pounds.