Garden Time: Cultivating Mental Health and Community

“This story is a part of the Solutions Journalism Network Media Challenge, where we report on solutions to mental health issues within the juvenile justice and foster care systems.”

Garden Time: Cultivating Mental Health & Community

March 6, 2026 | Communities of Hope Civic Media, Solutions Journalism Network Student Media Challenge

By: Kate Tortolini, Macayla M. McDonald, and Rachel Fortuna Cabral 

Fact-Checkers & Copy-Editors: Abigail Stark & Aliyah Goulette-Brown

Picture this: early morning watering of crops, soil under fingernails from tending to plants, and gardeners quietly focused on the fruits of their labor.

This is exactly what is happening in some Rhode Island prisons. Incarcerated populations are getting the opportunity to get their hands dirty and pour their time and efforts into something meaningful for them, and impactful for the rest of the population.

“We need more of this. If you know the green industry, you think you will not like it, but then you end up loving it because it’s like a circle of life,” said Denise, a graduate of Garden Time’s Green Re-Entry Program. “They get into it, and they give back.”

The Problem
Across the juvenile justice system, there is a high prevalence of trauma, anxiety, and depression. According to Mental Health America, approximately 65-70% of youth in the justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition, which is a significantly higher rate than the general population.

Despite high needs, only about 15% of youth with significant mental health problems receive treatment while detained, according to PubMed Central. With this, youth are often neglected in the system, which negatively contributes to their mental health. “I was seeing so much neglect with people that were coming in naked, bitten by a dog, tasered, pepper-sprayed, everything.” said a member of Garden Time’s staff, who was formerly incarcerated and eventually became an advocate for women in prison. “They neglected them.”

Additionally, there are gaps in mental health services and rehabilitative programming. Systemic barriers often stop youth from accessing, affording, and receiving effective and long-term care. According to Science Direct, a recent study showed that youth with healthcare and behavioral needs such as those involved in the juvenile justice system are significantly less likely to receive adequate mental health services due to those gaps in treatment, lack of care and support, and structural barriers that affect marginalized populations.

Traditional punitive rehabilitation models often fall short – Prisons rely heavily on isolation units, there is little mental health and primary healthcare access across the system, and prisons do not target the root problems that led youth to where they are. According to Chicago Journals, based on a 2021 analysis of 116 studies, in comparison to noncustodial alternatives, prison does not reduce recidivism. In fact, it often slightly increases it.

Once youth exit the system, oftentimes as adults, finding a job is extremely difficult as most places do not hire those with a criminal record. According to Northwestern Now, a longitudinal study of justice-involved youth, showed those with greater exposure to incarceration were much less likely to obtain stable employment or housing, and experienced higher rates of ongoing mental health struggles and increased risk of recidivism. With that, finding purpose after being in the system from when you were a teenager into adulthood can be extremely difficult.

Programs such as Garden Time help to combat these issues, as they offer direct support and a fresh start for formerly incarcerated people. “I believe everyone should have a second chance, but some people don’t see it that way.” said a graduate of Garden Time’s Green Re-Entry Program. “They just look at your past.”

What is Garden Time?
Garden Time, founded by Kate Lacouture and Vera Bowen, is a non-profit program that teaches gardening skills within the Adult Correctional Institutions, and provides job training in the green industry for formerly incarcerated individuals. They aim to improve mental health, provide job readiness, and reduce recidivism in Rhode Island.

Since 2011, Kate has managed gardens across maximum and medium-security facilities, training over 300 incarcerated people in green industry skills. Their first garden was at the men’s maximum-security facility, and they have only expanded since then. Juveniles are often transferred to these adult institutions, through “waivers.” These prisons have vegetable, flower, and herb gardens.

Alongside the programs within the facilities, Garden Time also has two other programs called the Green Re-Entry Program and the Canopy Crew. Through these programs, they support formerly incarcerated persons through hands-on training and employment pathways in the green industry. The Canopy Crew is an urban forestry initiative that employs formerly incarcerated persons to plant and maintain trees in underrepresented communities across the state.

How the In-Prison Garden Program Works
Once participants are enrolled in the in-prison program, they gain hands-on gardening practice. They learn practical skills such as soil preparation, planting, tending to crops, harvesting, and composting.

This instruction and education integrates horticulture basics with real applied gardening work, not just verbal descriptions. Participants learn from staff, which is made up of educators, volunteers, and partner volunteers who provide instruction, mentoring, and support inside the gardens. The founders of Garden Time created the curriculum that the staff at the centers teach. Furthermore, the gardens produce fresh food that is often used by the facility in the prison kitchens. 

Evidence: In-Prison Program
The hands-on education that participants get from Garden Time’s in-prison programming opens the door for more opportunities post incarceration, providing them with skills that they would not have otherwise received. These gardening activities also improve upon incarcerated peoples’ mental well-being, giving them something to look forward to and nurture. According to psychologist Sander Linden, “Garden programs offer an opportunity for relaxation and relief from such harsh social environments”. These programs offer people who are incarcerated a space to decompress and connect with nature, decreasing both depression and aggression.

Furthermore, participants that have gone through the Garden Time program have highlighted not only the opportunities it has given to them, but how it helped them in their lives. “Not too many people give us a chance but here, in the garden, we’re just normal people, being productive, learning new skills, and bringing life to earth,” said a Garden Time gardener.

“I got into the garden program in prison, and that’s where I found freedom by getting to garden,” said a Garden Time Green Re-Entry Graduate, who was incarcerated for 27 years, and discovered Garden Time while in prison.

While Garden Time has demonstrated benefits, they are only in adult prisons, not juvenile centers. However, the Rhode Island Training School offers a similar program. The Urban Garden project, started back in 2017, provides students at the training school with a gardening outlet. The program is designed to give youths vocational training and other agricultural skills, directing them towards a path away from recidivism. Students from the Urban Garden Project are prepped for re-entry, armed with skills to help them secure employment in the agricultural field.

Programs like Garden Time may be one of the only rehabilitative and developmental spaces available within prisons, and further extension into juvenile detention centers could prove beneficial. Additionally, because youth brains are still highly adaptable, positive and experimental learning environments can have a long-term impact compared to interventions post incarceration.

Post-Release
After release from prison, formerly incarcerated individuals often face a handful of barriers, preventing them from an easy transition back into society. There is a lack of stable community support, risks of mental health relapses, and a vulnerability to re-entering the system. Even those who reenter society with support from friends, family and the community often face barriers in housing. There is a lack of housing that supports those with a record. “If it’s winter, what are they going to do? They are going to steal, try to stay warm.” said a Garden Time graduate. “I think there should be more housing for people that have convictions.” 

Without the proper support and guidance, re-entering the system is extremely common. According to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, nearly half of the individuals released from the RIDOC return to a sentenced status within three years.

Attaining employment after exiting the system is also difficult, as many places do not hire those with convictions. However, in 2020, Rhode Island introduced legislation designed to prevent individuals with criminal records from being automatically disqualified from obtaining a professional license. This, referred to as The Fair Chance Licensing Act, was officially passed in July of 2020, and took effect in 2021. This prohibits employers from disqualifying applications solely because of their past criminal history unless the crime relates directly to that occupation. This law is a step forward for reducing those barriers to employment for individuals who were incarcerated.

The Green Re-Entry Model
Outside of prisons, Garden Time also runs an 8-week Green Job Re-Entry Training Program for formerly incarcerated adults. It combines the classroom instruction and hands-on training that happens inside the facilities with support services such as case management, career counseling, and transportation assistance.

Participants learn employable skills for entry-level work in tree care, landscaping, and other plant-based industries. Garden Time also often collaborates with local organizations, opening the door for further employment and more education in the field.

During the final week of the program, trainees complete paid internships, which also can serve as extended job interviews with potential employers. Even after graduation, the program provides ongoing support, and helps participants transition into green industry jobs. This ongoing support prevents recidivism and allows graduates to continue building the lives they aspire to live. 

According to EcoRI, participants in the program reported increased self-confidence, a sense of belonging, and positive changes in outlook and behavior. “Great program for me, social wise,” said a graduate of Garden Time’s Green Re-entry Program. “Especially coming from [prison] where you ain’t really too social.” Furthermore, trainees often explain that they get a sense of dignity through work and enjoy the work with nature as it is calming and reassuring.

“A program like this can help somebody flourish and can help somebody rebuild a world into a better place like it needs to be,” said Trinity. “I’ve got my OSHA certification, and I’ve met a lot of wonderful people. I’ve networked a lot, and I have a team,” she added. “It gave me a purpose and a place. Having the option and the opportunity to go through a program like this, I’m grateful; if I didn’t, I could have been out there lost.”

Limitations
While Garden Time and its programs have a long-lasting impact on their participants, there are some discrepancies in how formerly incarcerated individuals are able to access them.

Firstly, Garden Time’s Re-Entry Program operates on an application basis. Participants have to apply, and they are reviewed by the Garden Time team. Given that there are a limited number of spots available, particularly due to funding, not all applicants gain entry into the program. Additionally, there is not much data available to the public about the efficacy of Garden Time’s programming specifically. Rather, much of the available information comes from participant testimonials, media coverage, and internal descriptions. 

Access to programs like Garden Time often depends on word-of-mouth and informal knowledge networks rather than formal institutional outreach. “When you don’t have the valuable information in front of you before you reach the threshold of getting out, then that’s where a lot of people’s problems begin, even before they get out,” said Larmie, a Garden Time Re-Entry Program graduate. Correctional facilities have a responsibility to systematically disseminate information about reentry programs, services, and opportunities available to individuals prior to release, which is currently not being fulfilled. Ultimately, the effectiveness of programs like Garden Time’s Green Re-Entry Training only extends as far as its reach. Without outreach, the success of programs like this will be limited, benefiting only those who happen to learn about them.

Broader Implications
The Garden Time model is unique, as it offers both in-prison support and post-incarceration support. Other programs can offer solely just one or the other, but Garden Time’s support extends beyond the prison walls, offering longer-lasting results.

Scaling a model such as Garden Time across other states could have a meaningful impact inside prisons and jails. We have seen that gardening programs in correctional facilities can give incarcerated individuals hands-on skills, structure, and a sense of purpose. The genesis of teaching people to take care of something and grow fresh food while building responsibility, teamwork, and a stronger sense of self is incredibly beneficial across prison systems that have implemented these structures. The individuals who have been a part of Garden Time in any capacity stand as a testament to the true impact taking place.

When it comes to systemic adoption in correctional facilities, the Department of Corrections in different states would need to formally support the program. This could mean allocating land or space, training staff, partnering with agricultural educators, and integrating gardening into rehabilitation programming. Consistent funding, data tracking, and program evaluation would be important to show positive outcomes.

Furthermore, there is a financial benefit to this model. When people on parole or those who have a record cannot find jobs, there is a financial cost not only to them, but to the community as a whole. Formerly incarcerated individuals who are unemployed are not paying income taxes at the same level, and they may rely more on public assistance, which increases government spending. If programs such as Garden Time help people build job skills and successfully enter the workforce post release, they can begin earning steady income, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy in a more meaningful fashion.

“Patience is a virtue. Time is endless. Good things come to those who wait.” said Tyrone. “Everything’s gonna be all right.” 

Copy-Editors: Abigail Stark, Macayla M. McDonald, Rachel Fortuna Cabral

Fact-Checker: Aliyah Goulette-Brown

Research: Emma O’Neill, Meghan Harvey, Kayley Dias, Rachel Fortuna Cabral 

Reporters: Rachel Fortuna Cabral, Macayla M. McDonald, Kate Tortolini

Graphic Designer: Haylee Silva

Website Manager: Molly Stinchfield