When an individual chooses to break the law in Sandusky County, I’m sure they are not imaging themselves planting cabbage and snapping string beans.  That is  not typical behavior for someone incarcerated.  However, Kyle Overmyer is not your typical sheriff.

The jail garden serves as more than a food supply for the inmates.  Many of them have never completed a given task.  They have begun many things, but have quit before they reached their goals.  Numerous inmates have dropped out of school because it seemed too hard or a waste of their time.  Some have had several jobs, but didn’t find satisfaction in any of them.

When working the jail garden, they aren’t given the opportunity to quit.  They work the ground, plant the seed, water and weed, and finally, they harvest the crop.  For some this is the first time they have ever completed a project they began.

Most of the inmates don’t complain about their garden work.  It builds character and self esteem in them.  They have a feeling of accomplishment when they can carry in a bushel of sweet corn they helped plant.

Only the low level offender get to work in the garden.   They may grumble at the idea at first (slave labor), but they soon come to enjoy the time outdoors and the feeling of hope that comes from watching something grow.  It sure beats sitting in a cell all day, counting flies on the wall.