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People who are incarcerated in the Mecklenburg County jail can learn horticulture through a partnership with master gardeners.
When Matthew Kerns was sentenced to serve 30 months at Central Jail in Charlotte, his focus was not on his post-release plans. But in the months leading up to his pending release in April, Kerns has set his sights on an unusual dream: growing a garden and raising fish in an aquaponics system.
Because of a creative program during his incarceration, he has the skills to make it happen.
Horticulture training, offered by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Mecklenburg County Extension Master Gardeners, gives those at high risk of reoffending valuable skills for work after incarceration.