A garden connotes peacefulness and tranquility and what better way then to bring that attitude into the Island?s prison system.

Frances Eddy has taken her lifetime of gardening skills to a whole different level by teaching inmates to get in touch with the earth. In just over two months the plants are flourishing and the inmates who have spent time preparing the garden are reaping not only the benefits of homegrown food but also pride in their handiwork.

The programme called ?Grow Food First? is a project between the Department of Corrections and the Environment Ministry. Ms Eddy received an environmental grant of $5000 late last year and began the project in early February.

Eight men told how peaceful the time is they spend in the garden every week. ?This gives me a sense of peace,? Paul Williams said after a morning of tending the garden.

Fellow inmate Nathan Richardson, who has been involved since the start of the class, explained: ?It?s amazing, it?s an escape and gets you in touch with nature.?

The members of the gardening classes have fluctuated and although Ms Eddy had originally wanted the programme to have a more solid group she has learned to accommodate the inmates. The students also have taken classes with her as well as their hands-on involvement.

The six men maintain they will continue with gardening when they are released from prison. ?This has been a great project since I?ve been here. I enjoy it and if I have a nice piece of land I will continue with it,? said Jerome Dublin.

?I?ve had about 15 students but the numbers fluctuate but we?ve made progress. The men may not understand the full concept right away but they enjoy getting involved. I?m very happy with the success,? Ms Eddy said.

?I can leave them alone now and I feel confident that they know what they?re doing,? she added before telling one inmate that she likes how he has cleared part of the land.

Among the eight plots, each measured at five feet wide by 20 feet long, are a multitude of flourishing produce and flowers.

?The more diversity you have the more natural and holistic you have for protection from disease and worms,? Ms Eddy said.

?Tomatoes are very susceptible to disease so they need all types of protection,? Ms Eddy said pointing to the tomato patch surrounded by several other plants.

The important part of the project is the size of the garden that specifically maximises the space available, she added.

?We plan to grow intensively so as to use a specific space for each plant so there is no wasted space,? Ms Eddy explained.

The soil has been prepared by hand and the men have worked through 200 gallons of compost taken from the Marsh Folly dump. Within the small space are plants such as sweet potatoes, yams, lettuce, corn, fingerling potatoes and sunflowers. Ms Eddy has also been trying out some different plants such as spinach vine and one that none of the men had ever heard of ? kohlrabi.

The garden, situated at the entrance of the Prison Farm isn?t just for looks though.

The garden has already produced crunchy, bright green snap peas and large, leafy greens that will end up in a salad next week, Ms Eddy said. ?This space could feed one person for a year over succession planting. As long as something is in the soil but is always kept replenished.?

Irvin Hendrickson, the acting chief of the Prison farm, said he?s so impressed with the success of the project that he?s taking notes from Ms Eddy for his own small yard. ?It?s a great thing and they didn?t waste their efforts on this grant,? Mr. Hendrickson said. ?The inmates have been so proud because they?re growing something personal. The enthusiasm is there.?

The inmates out in the field also included Antoine Raynor, Neville Woods and Sinclair Fox. They all thanked the Environment Ministry for allowing Ms Eddy to use the grant money for this project.

Ms Eddy added that she has accepted the challenge of working with prison inmates.

?I had already had men with alcohol and drug addictions in my regular classes and noticed a change in their behaviour. Their response was no different from that of other adult students I had taught.

?There was a natural innocent delight that comes from having worked with the soil and watching the development of plants from seedling to maturity,? she said.