Feb 17, 2017 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County jail warden John Kingston wants to put a produce garden in at the jail for the inmates to service and use for their daily meals.

Kingston told the county prison board Thursday he wants to move the facility from using processed foods to whole foods because it could cut down on expenses. He also said it would build a “restoration of trust” with the inmates who would be responsible for developing and maintaining the garden.

“You need to give people something to do and if you can give them something like growing a garden, I think that’s very positive,” he said. “It gives them an opportunity to give back to the community and gives them that feeling of self-worth.”

Kingston said the garden will only cost the jail the time it takes for staff members to supervise it, but he said in the long run, it should save them money on food service.

Kingston said he’s not too concerned about the possibility of people hiding contraband in the garden because he doesn’t suspect that will be an issue.

“I’m more concerned about the deer eating the produce,” he said, adding the garden might be outside the jail fence perimeter. “We’d probably need to put some chicken wire up.”

Since he was hired in September, Kingston has worked to modernize the jail on Rolling Meadows Road in Franklin Township to offer inmates educational opportunities and healthier eating options.

On Wednesday, new exercise equipment was installed and secured in concrete in the main yard of the jail for the inmates to use. Kingston said previously the inmates would “get creative,” by pushing their beds off the ground with their legs as a means of working out.