WTHR |Plainfield prisoners garden to help food banks

Plainfield prisoners garden to help food banks

Cat Andersen/Eyewitness News

Plainfield - The slow economy has been difficult on many local food banks. In Plainfield, families in need have received tons of fresh produce this summer.

Picking and pruning, cradling and nurturing, these prisoners are a world away from what brought them here in the first place.

"I'm in here for murder," said Richard Davis.

"Voluntary manslaughter," said Brian Williamson.

They are felons serving the last few years of their sentences at the Plainfield Re-entry Facility. Within these rows and stalks, they are gardeners.

Davis says they grow watermelon, cucumbers, peppers, banana peppers and bell peppers.

"The tomatoes, that's my favorite part of it," said Williamson.

"It gives you a good feeling inside because you're actually doing something good. So you're keeping yourself busy, so you're not getting in trouble  and you're learning in the process," said Davis.

Their garden has already produced more than five tons of food that have been donated to local charities. The gardeners say they're learning more than just how to pick and plant tomatoes and squash. They're learning skills that will give them a paycheck and a purpose once they're released.

"It's taught me a job trade so when I get out of prison, I'll be able to do this," said Davis.

"We can get the Indiana Nursery and Landscaping Association certification to be an accredited horticulturalist. That's what I'm looking forward to," said Williamson.

They are students of pesticides, petunias and potatoes.

"They're surprised themselves at how well they did and what it took to put that in their and they're very proud of their work," said Chuck Orth, landscape management teacher.

They are learning how to landscape.

"It's given me hope for the future, let's put it that way," said Davis.