RESEARCH

Building Capitals Pending Revolution: Gardens Behind Bars as Clinical Sociology

This book explores therapeutic gardening programs in U.S. prisons and community correction facilities, focusing on two main programs in the Midwest and Southeast. The research demonstrates that gardening positively affects participants’ well-being and addresses issues of food justice in incarcerated settings.

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social

Population Groups: Rehabilitation, Corrections/Justice-Involved

Setting or Context: Jails/Prisons

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Improved Physical Health, Better Nutritional Awareness, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Greater Job Readiness & Vocational Skills, Increased Horticultural Knowledge

Allied Profession Intersections: Social Work

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Vocational Skill Development, Growing Plants from Seed

Evidence Type: Case Studies, Observational Research, Qualitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness

Research Source: Books/Book Chapters

Access: Paid

Print Form

Summary

The book “Gardening Behind Bars: Clinical Sociology and Food Justice in Incarcerated Settings” explores therapeutic gardening programs in prisons and community correction facilities across the United States. The authors conducted research on two main programs: one in the Midwest at a community-based corrections facility for women, and another in the Southeast called the Rockpile Garden program.

For the Midwest program, researchers used a collaborative approach to design and implement a gardening initiative that addressed both women’s and facility needs. They collected data through surveys, interviews, and participant observation. The program showed positive effects on participants’ mental and physical well-being, as well as improved social interactions. In the Southeast, the Rockpile Garden program was implemented in a women’s prison, focusing on addressing food insecurity and providing gardening education. The program faced various challenges but successfully developed curriculum for both beginner and advanced gardeners. Researchers collected data on dietary intake and other outcomes, though specific results were not fully detailed in the provided excerpts