San Quentin State Prison Garden

We are working with the Insight Garden Program (IGP) at San Quentin State Prison inside the medium security unit to provide inmates with job-training skills they can use upon their release.  We teach a course on urban permaculture and organic food production to the 30 men enrolled in the IGP course, and they are involved in the planning, design, implementation, and maintenance of their native plant and flower garden.

In collaboration with IGP, Planting Justice started a post-release job placement program that gives former inmates the opportunity to work at our nurseries and through our Transform your Yard program. Last year, we hired Jeff Rutland, who now works full-time with Urban Tilth in Richmond, and this year, Anthony Forrest, Quincy Hilliard, and Lance Harris have joined the Planting Justice team!

Be sure to check out the attachments at the bottom of this page. On January 22, 2010, Planting Justice helped to facilitate a group discussion and reflection about the personal and vocational benefits of the Insight Garden Program and its garden. Also attached is a poem about Planting Justice written by John Patrick, one of the Insight Garden Program participants at San Quentin State prison.

Check out the Insight Garden Program's website: http://www.insightgardenprogram.org/