Jail garden planting seeds of hope
Published 3:14 pm Thursday, January 30, 2025
Ministry partnership yields food for body, soul
By Staff Reports
The seeds of transformation are quite literally being sown at the Crenshaw County Detention Facility (CCJ) through a unique collaboration between the community’s jail ministry and reentry program. The joint venture, a volunteer-run garden, is flourishing — offering inmates more than just fresh produce, but also life skills and hope for the future.
The initiative took root Oct. 16, 2024, with the first groundbreaking. Just three months later, Jan. 17, female inmates harvested their first crop from what administrators are calling a “winter garden.”
Overseen by volunteer Gina Welch, who manages both the facility’s female ministry and the garden, the program has quickly become a testament to community generosity and faith-driven rehabilitation. “Every single expense for the garden has been covered by donations,” said Jail Administrator Angela Hebert. “Not a single taxpayer dollar has gone into this project, and we have the community’s incredible support to thank for that.”
According to Hebert, central to the program’s success are Welch and the facility’s chaplain, Stae Sanders, both of whom have donated their time and energy freely.
“Mrs. Gina and Mr. Stae are two of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” Hebert said. “The vision they bring to our ministry program truly feels like having angels walking among us. Their dedication and the work they do here is priceless.”
The garden serves as a bridge between the jail’s ministry and reentry efforts, equipping inmates with practical skills that may serve them well upon release. Participation is entirely voluntary, with all inmate workers signing waivers to confirm their consent.
“Our inmates have the right to practice religion—or not—as is their constitutional right,” Hebert said. “This garden is part of a broader effort to offer opportunities for personal growth while respecting everyone’s beliefs.”
The winter garden is just the beginning, Hebert said. Plans are already in motion for an expanded spring garden, expected to involve more inmates and yield a greater harvest.
Sheriff Terry Mears emphasized the garden’s importance in providing inmates with a sense of purpose. He highlighted the broader goals of the initiative, which include not only rehabilitation but also fostering hope for a brighter future.
“I’m proud of the transformation we’re seeing at the Crenshaw County Detention Facility,” Mears said. “This garden is more than just fresh produce — it’s about giving inmates purpose and hope for a brighter future. Thanks to the community and volunteers, especially Gina and Stae, we’re planting seeds of change that will last.”
The initiative has drawn praise from the community, whose members have contributed to its success, as well as from inmates like Jodie Robinson, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to take part.
“I joined the garden to find peace outside the dorm, [to] enjoy the fresh air and be with my church family,” Robinson said. “It has given me something constructive to do, which also benefits everyone here at CCJ. It has strengthened my faith and trust in God, teaching me that everything is a process.
“Knowing that God has blessed our garden and that I can trust Him to help everything grow has deepened my trust in Him, even during difficult times. Nothing is permanent; you have to trust the process.”
Robinson expressed her deep gratitude for those running the program.
“I am so thankful to work with Mrs. Gena and Mr. Stae,” Robinson said. “If it weren’t for them, I would still be lost, but they have led me back to Christ through their patient and loving ministry. I love them, I love working with them and it’s such a blessing to have such honest and faithful church leaders. They are like the seeds that God plants in us through His word, giving us the tools to navigate everyday life.”
The Crenshaw County Extension Office made up information packets for the program. Churches and individuals have contributed to the effort including Chapel Hill Baptist Church, South Luverne Baptist Church, the Luverne Co-op, Brock Flynn, Holly Shelton, Ed Welch, Debbie Mosley and countless others.
“We’ve had lots [of people] who want to remain anonymous that donated as well,” Hebert said.