By Ken Little/ The Greeneville Sun
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (July 21, 2015) -- It's harvest time at gardens overseen by the Greene County Sheriff's Department that provide nutritious meals to jail and workhouse inmates, along with an appetizer of big savings for taxpayers.
With the recent acquisition of two large military surplus refrigerated containers, Sheriff Pat Hankins' goal is for vegetables grown by inmates to be available until the next growing season, he said.
Potatoes, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, squash, peppers and zucchini are grown in the gardens.
Two are off West Summer Street, near the workhouse on land owned by the Holston United Methodist Home for Children. Another, which includes three acres of potatoes, is along the Nolichuckey River. Other vegetable gardens are in Camp Creek and off Foxford Road.
With about 400 inmates to feed at the jail and workhouse, the savings are substantial.
Bradley Williams, president and CEO of Holston United Methodist Home for Children, said Holston officials are happy to help put food on the table at the jail and workhouse.