Greening of grounds benefits inmates

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By Contra Costa Times (San Francisco)

Published: 07/02/2001

There are many smells associated with jail life. The scent of roses is not one of them, unless you've visited West County Jail in Richmond.
The jail, which houses 700 inmates, sits on 36 acres, four of which are impeccably manicured gardens complete with waterfalls, bridges, redwoods and more than two dozen varieties of flowers. The garden is maintained by a crew of 20 inmates and their mentor, Tony Gallo.
'When they built this place, there was nothing but dirt. It was primitive,' said Gallo. 'We wanted to do something creative, something other than throwing grass everywhere.'
Gallo, a retired high school teacher and self-taught landscaper, has run the program for seven years. He was interested in prison education and found inmates to be eager students.
'They are very capable and talented people. They just took a wrong turn,' said Gallo, whose only assistant is his wife. 'There's a positive impact. They are very receptive and do good work.'
The inmates are equally fond of Gallo.
'Tony teaches us everything we need to know,' said Bill Johnasen, who has been at West County for three months
'He sizes you up and knows what you're capable of.'
West County Jail is a medium-security facility. Instead of living behind bars, inmates carry keys for their dormitory-style rooms.
It is a program-oriented facility with options ranging from engraving to computer classes. Inmates are encouraged to be proactive.
'Everything you see here was done by hand,' said Gallo, motioning to the fountains, concrete paths and delicate orchids surrounding him.
'Shovels laid the dirt. Hands built the waterfalls. The only thing that had a motor was the lawn mower.'
Tim Nelson has been in West County for three months and was previously at San Quentin. He is grateful for the opportunities here.
'We're not caged up like animals,' said Nelson, gingerly clipping buddleias as he spoke.
'The garden gives us a little beauty. I understand we're in prison, but this makes life a little more bearable.'
The inmates work in the garden for three hours every day, beginning at 8 am. At the end of their shifts, their hard work is rewarded with coffee.
Other perks include the possibility of being released three days early. But the primary reward is the garden.
'It gives me an opportunity to do something positive,' said Nelson.
The facility is one of three jails in Contra Costa County. The majority of the inmates are there for nonviolent crimes and will stay no longer than a year. Some are awaiting sentencing, others are en route to state prisons or rehabilitation programs. The turnover rate is high.
The landscaping program began seven years ago and is supported by the Inmate Welfare Fund, a $1 million fund composed of inmate phone and snack bill revenue.
'We wanted a program that would benefit our inmates,' said Sgt. Jeff Nelson. 'This gives them goals and direction. It gives them skills they can use on the outside.'

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