$270,000 to Support Community Garden at the Washington County Jail Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill in First Key Step

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured a total of $270,000 for a partnership at the Washington County Jail in Machias in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture appropriations bill.  The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“This innovative project is a win-win for taxpayers as well as those who are currently incarcerated at the Washington County Jail,” said Senator Collins.  “By helping inmates cultivate new horticultural skills, Downeast Restorative Harvest would help reduce recidivism, provide nutritious meals inside the jail, and support local food pantries.  In addition, the garden will provide opportunities for local residents to volunteer and gain agricultural experience, which could help alleviate the high rates of food insecurity in Washington County.”

The funding would support a partnership between Healthy Acadia and the Washington County Jail to launch Downeast Restorative Harvest, a corrections community garden program.  The garden–which would be located on a parcel of county-owned land in Machias–would engage jail residents, members of the recovery community, horticultural educators, and other community members in growing food for the jail’s kitchen as well as for donation to local hunger relief programs. The cultivation of vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees, combined with horticultural training led by University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will provide jail residents and other participants with valuable life and employment skills, as well as opportunities to support and improve their physical and mental health.