It’s a labor of love at the Kyle Correctional Center in Texas. Offenders learn new skills as gardeners, planting, cultivating, and harvesting a variety of vegetables and fruits including onions, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers.

The story was featured in the San Marcos Corridor.

Warden Deanna Branham and Principal Robert Deckard came up with the idea as a part of the MTC Impact Innovations program.

Robert told a reporter this project is helping offenders in a lot of ways, “The men are already seeing the parallel between working to improve the land and working to improve themselves.”

Not only is the garden helping offenders learn new skills and improve their lives—it’s giving them an opportunity to give back to society. The harvested fruits and vegetables will be donated to the Hays County Food Bank!