Katie Peterson | Staff Writer
In 2016, the Joint Regional Correctional Facility began its Vocational Agriculture Program, which allowed six inmates who met all program requirements to learn how to grow their own food and different gardening processes.
It began when a staff sergeant who started a similar program at the Northwest JRCF in Fort Lewis, Wash., relocated to Fort Leavenworth and was asked to do the same.
“He had a farming background, and he really developed (the Northwest program) into something really cool,” said Sgt. Christopher Samson, Vocational Agriculture Program noncommissioned officer in charge.
However, it was unclear whether Fort Leavenworth would see the same success.
“They weren’t sure if it was really going to work or take off,” Samson said.
But despite the initial doubts, what started off as a small program has continued to grow, adding two more gardens and expanding to include 19 inmates as part of the work detail.
Now, the JRCF is growing produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, watermelon and cantaloupe; ornamental plants such as scented geraniums; and herbs such as thyme and mint.
“We try to have enough variety to keep things interesting,” said John Wahlmeier, Vocational Agriculture Program business manager. “We’ve got a fairly wide variety of stuff, but basically, we’re just here to teach the guys how to grow different things, about soil science, pest control and things like that.
“Because we’re in a prison, we don’t use pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, so everything is grown naturally,” he said. “Even if they don’t go into (agriculture) as a business, being able to grow food for themselves isn’t going to hurt them at any point when they get out. … One of the biggest things is just knowing where your food comes from or how it gets there. No matter what you’re doing for a job, you’re eating three times a day, so knowing what all went into your food is an important thing.”
Parts of the natural gardening technique include using a hydroponic system that uses fish waste to fertilize the plants and using frogs for natural pest control.
“There is a lot involved in it,” Wahlmeier said.
During certain growing periods, inmates are required to focus on the same plant, but the program generally allows them to do some experimentation with the produce, too.
“They can go their own way as far as what they like, what they’re interested in,” Wahlmeier said. “We have books inside they can check out and take their own path.”
Some of the experiments have included hybrid peppers and watermelons, Wahlmeier said.
Growing food to consume is not the only thing the inmates learn.
“We grow some stuff aimed at crafts as well, which keeps us busy for the winter,” Wahlmeier said.
Some of the craft items include birdhouse gourds, dried peppers and ornamental corn used to create decorations that were sold at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks Sales Store.
Samson said he thinks the agriculture program has a unique benefit for the inmates compared to other work details.
“Just being able to come outside every day and be in the sunlight and work with your hands is a good change of pace from working in the kitchen or the textiles,” Samson said. “They actually have a job where they can go out and do things and eat some of the produce they grow, so, in my mind, …that raises spirits.”
Not only is the program helping the inmates to learn skills before they are released, but it is also helping the local community. After the food is grown and harvested, it is donated to the Leavenworth Mission Food Pantry, 1140 Spruce St., Leavenworth.
“We really want to help the community that we’re right up next to and a part of,” Samson said. “(The Mission) really does a lot for the community as far as providing food, so they just seemed like the best choice.”
Iris Arnold, Leavenworth Mission Community Store/Food Pantry president, said the donations have greatly benefitted the Leavenworth community.
“We have numerous low-income families, veterans and individuals with health issues and disabilities. They have to carefully choose how to spend their limited income, so these folks probably could not afford to buy produce along with other needs,” Arnold said. “The JRCF program is an excellent opportunity for inmates to craft a skill in agriculture. Learning special techniques to grow quality foods is a talent that could give them more options once they seek employment.
“Having this program is truly a gift to so many folks,” she said. “I’m blessed to witness all the smiles when our clients get excited to receive… the free produce.”
Though the JRCF plans to continue to donate produce to the Food Pantry, permission has been granted by the Defense Commissary Agency for the program to sell its produce on post, which is expected to start at the USDB Sales Store later this month. All income will go to non-appropriated funds, which currently funds the program.
An artichoke grows in one of the raised-bed gardens on the Joint Regional Correctional Facility grounds Sept. 3, 2019. Inmates in the JRCF’s Vocational Agriculture Program learn how to propagate, grow, harvest and preserve a variety of plants. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp 
Chicago hardy figs are among the more unusual plants being grown in the Joint Regional Correctional Facility’s Vocational Agriculture Program gardens. Other unusual plants include safflower, which produces edible seeds; stevia, used as a natural sweetener; epazote, used to flavor dishes like black beans; and roselle, a hibiscus used to make tea. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp 
Inmates in the Joint Regional Correctional Facility’s Vocational Agriculture Program are learning about the use of integrated predator management in gardening, taking advantage of natural predators like these frogs, seen here Sept. 3, 2019, to help control insect pests. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp 
Harvested gourds, used in craft projects, lay in a pile in one of the Joint Regional Correctional Facility’s Vocational Agriculture Program gardens Sept. 3, 2019, at the JRCF. Birdhouse gourds were one of the first products inmates were able to grow and sell at the U.S. Disciplinary Sales Store. The program now has approval to sell plant starts and produce at the USDB Sales Store. Hundreds of pounds of harvested produce, including cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini, have been donated over the summer to a local food pantry. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp 
Inmates who are part of the Joint Regional Correctional Facility’s Vocational Agriculture Program are crossbreeding the moon and stars heirloom variety of watermelon, seen here Sept. 3, 2019, to try to increase yields. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp 
A harvest of okra, grown large over the Labor Day weekend, is displayed Sept. 3, 2019, at the Joint Regional Correctional Facility. Inmates in the JRCF’s Vocational Agriculture Program harvest on a regular basis, spending seven hours, five days a week in the on-site gardens, but the okra had not been harvested for several days due to the holiday weekend when supervisors were on leave. Nineteen inmates are currently part of the agriculture program. Photo by Prudence Siebert/Fort Leavenworth Lamp
