Prison Programs

The MMGA’s Prison Horticulture Program provides an opportunity for dedicated Master Gardeners to help make a difference in the lives of incarcerated individuals. We partner with the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) and Concord Prison Outreach (CPO) to provide applied horticulture training programs in 3 DOC Medium Security prisons.

These programs empower incarcerated individuals with practical skills, personal growth opportunities, and pathways to employment in the green industry upon release.  

Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on gardening, participants gain a foundational knowledge in:

• basic botany.

• basic soil science.

• organic and sustainable agricultural practices.

• ecological relationships between plants and all of the other living creatures in the garden.

These programs offer incarcerated men and women the chance to engage in long-term projects, develop transferable skills, and experience the restorative benefits of working with nature. 

Photos of the NECC Gardens by MG Tony Bonnano