Detention Center Starts Sustainable Hydroponic Garden to Feed Inmates

Deputy Debra Taylor of the Sanford, Florida Correctional Facility gave us an inside look to their hydroponic garden, which grows tomatoes and lettuce that are used to feed the inmates and staff. This project uses pesticide alternatives, such as beneficial predator insects and indoor hydroponic growing, cut slash costs and increase crop yield, making this program beneficial to the inmates, the correctional officers, and the taxpayers.

Using a low-water irrigation system and a few yeild-boosting tricks, the greenhouse puts out a constant crop of lettuce and tomato. As this greenhouse is connected to the women's facility, a select few of the non-violent population are allowed to work in these areas, giving them a temporary reprieve from the rigors of prison life and a deeper appreciation for the produce we often take for granted.

Part one in a series of two videos, stay tuned for our coverage of the correctional facility's fish farm, which creates nutrient-rich water from basic algae and a sustainable source of food for the inmates and staff.