The Iowa State Penitentiary and Iowa State Extension are working together to have inmates produce food from their garden.

Robert Dodds, Extension education director in Lee county, said he has informally worked with the prison for the last 10 years to provide them with technical support.

This summer a formal agreement was established between Extension and the penitentiary to continue Extension’s support, especially in the area of horticulture, with the prison’s garden.

The arrangement has been a win-win situation for everyone involved, Dodds said.

“The cooperation with public institutions will save the taxpayers’ money,” he said. “It may be something for other institutions to look at also.”

The gardening project with Extension went over well this summer, Ron Welder, prison spokesman, said.

“We hope to work with ISU to see how we can continue to have ag programs,” Welder said. “The partnership helps us and the university.”

The penitentiary’s garden expanded last spring from five to 38 acres.

Next spring the garden will increase to 52 acres.

The garden produced more than a quarter of a million pounds of produce, including sweet corn, lettuce, potatoes, pumpkins and more.

The prison shared its harvest with the local food pantry, county jails and other community agencies because it does not have canning or freezing capabilities.

Dodds said, officials are working with food processors to design ways to preserve the food so it can be used throughout the year.

Dodds said taxpayers’ money is saved when the prisoners are involved with food production.

The prison hopes to save $100,000 a year on food costs, Dodds said.

The garden provided jobs for 20 inmates. They enjoyed working outside with the garden, Welder said. This was a good way to help the prison find work for its inmates, because the inmate labor law requires able-bodied persons to work 40 hours a week, he said.

Inmates also benefit from the program by learning new skills in horticulture and general work skills such as responsibility, Dodds said.

With the cooperation of the prison and its low labor costs, Dodds said, Extension hopes to conduct research projects on its farms.

Extension also hopes to hire a full-time horticulturist to work with the prison’s farm manager and inmates, he said.

Two greenhouses have been built to grow transplants for the fields next spring.

The prison is looking to expand its farm to include an orchard, Dodds said.

There is also a potential for the prison farm to raise livestock, catfish and a timber, he said.