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| Department of Corrections Institution Gardens |
| By John Dipko |
| Published: 11/06/2009 |
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MADISON – Inmates from 28 Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) adult institution facilities have harvested a bounty of produce this fall, thanks to an ongoing system of gardens that benefits taxpayers and families in need. Under the supervision of staff, inmates have cultivated a variety of vegetables on facility grounds for many years. The produce not only helps to control inmate food costs, which indirectly benefits the taxpayer, but thousands of pounds are donated every year to local food pantries and other community organizations that serve local families in need. Additionally, gardening gives inmates a skill that can assist them in attaining employment when they are released and it gives them an opportunity to give back to the community. Examples of institutions that donate garden produce to local pantries and food banks include: * Columbia Correctional Institution: approximately 5,000 to 6,000 pounds per year (e.g., radishes, beans, eggplant), which is donated to a local food pantry. * Green Bay Correctional Institution: approximately 13,000 pounds (e.g., tomatoes, squash, peppers, carrots), with one third going to Paul’s Pantry. * John C. Burke Correctional Center: seasonal totals unavailable (e.g., squash, tomatoes, onions), a portion of which is donated to local food pantry. * Oakhill Correctional Institution: approximately 75,000 pounds of produce annually (e.g., tomatoes, corn, cabbage, broccoli), 25 percent of which is donated to local food bank(s). * Oshkosh Correctional Institution: approximately 22,500 pounds (e.g., lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflower, turnips), including 4,700 pounds donated to local food pantries. * Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution: estimated seasonal total of 15,000-16,000 pounds (e.g., potatoes, turnips, rutabaga, onions), a portion of which is donated to local food bank(s). * Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility: approximately 2,000-3,000 pounds per year (e.g., squash, onions, tomatoes), all of which is donated to a local food bank. * Redgranite Correctional Institution: 17,644 pounds/seasonal total of late September 2009 (e.g., zucchini, peppers, radishes, kohlrabi), a portion of which has been donated to a local food pantry. * Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center: seasonal totals unavailable (e.g., cantaloupe, peas, lettuce, pumpkins), some of which is donated to a local food pantry. * Taycheedah Correctional Institution: seasonal totals unavailable (e.g., tomatoes, peppers, onion sets, carrots, radishes, cucumbers), a portion of which is donated to a local food bank. * Thompson Correctional Center: 4,000 pounds as of late September 2009 (e.g., spinach, yellow squash, corn, bell peppers), a portion of which was donated to the Second Harvest Foodbank. Other facilities with gardens include: Black River Correctional Facility, Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility, Felmers Chaney Correctional Center, Flambeau Correctional Center, Fox Lake Correctional Institution, Gordon Correctional Institution, Jackson Correctional Institution, Kenosha Correctional Center, Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution, Marshal E. Sherrer Correctional Center, McNaughton Correctional Center, Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center, New Lisbon Correctional Institution, Oregon Correctional Center, Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center, St. Croix Correctional Center and the Winnebago Correctional Center. Each of these facilities either utilizes all harvested produce on site or else donates some to other state facilities for use. To arrange local press interviews about a particular facility’s garden or donations, please contact John Dipko at (608) 240-5060 or by e-mail at John.Dipko@Wisconsin.gov. |
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