Inmates are enjoying some 1,700 pounds of fresh vegetables from the "Garden of Hope" planted, cared for and harvested by inmates at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

Food Services Sgt. Nancy Loyd said the fresh produce provides an "extra special treat different from the normal meal" for 982 inmates now incarcerated.

"Last week, we put cucumbers in with the salad and little bit of ranch dressing," Sgt. Loyd said. "It was delicious."

Sheriff Robert Arnold initiated the garden in 2011 funded by donations and selling recycled materials such as wooden pallets and metal cans from the jail kitchen. Besides providing fresh vegetables and fruit, the garden doubles as an educational project.

"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day," Sheriff Arnold quoted. "Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."

Deputy Jason Fuqua teaches the inmates how to grow the garden from planting to harvesting. Trusties work five a days a week tending the garden.

Inmates planted about 750 tomato plants, 1,100 corn plants, 200 bell pepper plants, 40 squash plants, 36 cucumber plants, two rows of cantaloupe, numerous watermelons and 40 pumpkins. They now pick the produce two or three days a week.

"It seems to be doing as well if not better than last year," Deputy Fuqua said. "Every bit of it is going to the kitchen."

Dr. Nate Phillips of MTSU's School of Agribusiness and Agriscience teaches inmates about producing better gardens when he meets with the inmates weekly.

When they noticed the peppers were not growing well, Dr. Phillips conducted a soil testing and realized the PH level was low.

The garden didn't experience much impact from insects.

"We really don't let the weeds grow up," Fuqua said.

Sgt. Loyd said the kitchen staff uses everything produced by the garden. Inmates eat fresh tomatoes with their hamburgers with Roma tomatoes in salads. They freeze squash and green peppers for winter.

Last year, there was a bumper crop of green peppers and a shortage of green peppers in the winter because of a drought. The kitchen relied on the frozen green peppers.

"Deputy Fuqua is doing an excellent job," Sgt. Loyd said. "The produce is beautiful. We use everything he brings in."