Growing Their Own: Franklin County Inmates Tend to Bountiful Garden
- Terri Carter
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Inmates at the Franklin County Jail have been hard at work cultivating a thriving garden within the facility’s secure perimeter, yielding a plentiful harvest that’s both nourishing and cost-effective. Overseen by retired part-time corrections officer James Cantrell, the garden provides more than just fresh produce. It has offered inmates a constructive and therapeutic outlet. The fruits of their labor are incorporated into daily meals, helping supplement the jail’s food supply without placing additional financial burden on taxpayers. This initiative has become a meaningful way to foster responsibility, teamwork and self-reliance among participants.
“I’ve been over the jail garden for about 10 to 12 years.”, stated Cantrell. “At one point a while back, we kept up with how much money it saved, and it was around $10,000 to $12,000 a year. So, it saves the jail a lot of money and saves the taxpayers a lot of money.”
Cantrell stated that not only is the garden relieving some of the financial burden of the jail and the taxpayers, but it has also proven to be both beneficial and enjoyable work for the inmates who plant, maintain, and harvest it.
“The inmates love working on it.”, stated Cantrell. “They’re out mowing right now. When they get in at 3:00, if I’m available, they will beg to stay out in the garden until dark.”
Starting the garden from seeds and small sprouted plants, it has now grown into a bountiful harvest. All the plants were donated by Scottie Riddle from R and R Nursery and the seeds were purchased at the Franklin County Co-Op. There are currently 240 tomato plants, 100 bell pepper plants, 35 jalapeno and 35 cayenne plants, 8 long rows of corn, 20 pounds of red potatoes, 50 pounds of white potatoes, all growing alongside beans, zucchini, squash, and okra. But the growth doesn’t stop there.
When the intense summer heat gives way to cooler fall temperatures, Cantrell and the inmates plan to roll up their sleeves once again. Plans include cultivating a fall garden featuring squash, corn, beans, and other vegetable plants that thrive during the fall season. The ongoing effort will continue under Cantrell’s guidance and involve a select group of two to four inmate trustees, individuals chosen for their trusted status within the jail. Through this hands-on initiative, participants not only contribute to the facility’s food sustainability but also gain valuable skills and a sense of purpose that extends beyond the jail’s walls.
“We have some young guys that have never worked in a garden.”, stated Cantrell. “But they’re learning something. It’s a learning experience. And they might be able to take it when they leave here and grow their own garden.”
Tim Fuller, who has been Franklin County Sheriff since 2006, has played a critical role in not only maintaining, but also in expanding the garden since its beginning during former sheriff Mike Foster’s administration.
“It started back really in 1999.”, stated Fuller. “We’ve continued it and made it bigger and, of course, it offsets our food cost about $15,000 to $20,000 a year. People get overwhelmed with their own gardens and they bring us stuff, too. We have the kitchen set up inside to be able to process it. The majority of it we freeze.”
Sheriff Fuller estimated that nearly 70 percent of jails across Tennessee now maintain active gardens. He emphasized that with labor being handled internally, the minimal startup and maintenance costs are a small price to pay for the significant return of providing inmates with productive, skill-building work while easing the financial burden on taxpayers. He noted that the initiative benefits not only the facility, but also the broader community by fostering responsibility and reducing operational expenses.
Officials said the garden program reflects a broader commitment to rehabilitation and fiscal responsibility, offering inmates meaningful work while reducing food costs for the jail. As more correctional facilities across Tennessee adopt similar initiatives, Franklin County continues to cultivate not just fresh produce, but personal growth and second chances.
