Willow Glen Resident

Cover Story

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Young men have discovered the joys of gardening and a way to lessen stress while serving time at the detention facility in Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall.

Growing Pains

Joanne Hobbs' juvenile hall garden idea takes root

By Emilie Crofton

Young men are surrounded by a lush garden that includes cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, strawberries, watermelon and a rainbow of flowers. Grapevines cover the walls of chain-link fence and barbed wire. Thanks to Joanne Hobbs, it's easy to forget these young men are locked up in prison.

Hobbs, a Willow Glen resident, runs a gardening program for the young men in Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall.

She is the executive director of Catalyst for Youth, a nonprofit organization that provides non-traditional education, support and opportunities for at-risk youth. Since April 2007, it has been reaching incarcerated youth in downtown San Jose.

"I find the kids here endearing," Hobbs says. "It's important for them to know that there are people out there that care about them."

The garden program has become so popular with the inmates and supervisors that what started as a group of five boys has grown like the garden they tend.

"It's wonderful to see how the program has generated a great deal of enthusiasm from staff and youth alike," Hobbs says.

Two juvenile hall wards currently participate in the program. One group is from the maximum-security ward. These young men spend time in the garden every week and attend plant-based curriculum classes.

"I like everything about this," says 18-year-old Alaa, who had never gardened before this program. "It's amazing to work, plant seeds and watch the plants grow, to know that I helped them grow."

Only first names have been used in the story to protect the young men's privacy.

The success of this fledging program has been the seed Hobbs needed to parlay the idea into the development of multiple gardens. Hobbs would like to expand the program into the detention center's 12 wards, which include female inmates.

She plans to reach out to as many at-risk youths as possible, one garden at a time.

"The garden is part of a larger vision shared by Catalyst and juvenile hall personnel," Hobbs says. "We want to expand the range of current programs to creatively engage the youth while they are in the facility."

Every Wednesday and Saturday a supervised group of about 10 young men spend 1 1/2 hours outside, weeding, digging, planting, watering and growing a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers. The participants are chosen based on good behavior inside juvenile hall.

"The kids do everything here," Hobbs says. "They take such pride in the garden."

Since April, they have transformed hard dirt and weeds into a productive garden that even a farmer could envy.

Weeding out

Hobbs admits that initially the male youths were tentative and reluctant to join the program, but over time it has grown on them.

"At first I thought it sounded kinda dumb, and the area was really ugly," says David, 18,who has come to the garden every week since the program started. "But it makes you feel really good to be out here. Every week the garden gets prettier and prettier."

Hobbs says the program is not centered on developing new skills, but to serve more as a form of therapy.

"This isn't about teaching them to become gardeners once they get let out," she says, "It's all about the therapeutic aid. Gardening is a natural anti-depressant and stress reducer."

Juvenile hall superintendent James Hill parallels gardening and growth to the youths' human transformation.

"The kids are planting everything from seeds, taking care of them and watching them grow," Hill says. "They are able to see and enjoy the fruits of their labor. It give them a sense of pride and self-worth."

Hill says he has noticed first-hand the transformation of the inmates.

"You see a difference in their character," he says. "The kids forget where they are temporarily."

The young adults have also discovered the benefits.

"It's great being out here to get fresh air and be out in the sun instead of only being able to see four small concrete walls surrounding you," 19-year-old Manuel says.

Manuel has been gardening since he was a little boy. His knowledge serves as a guide to the others.

He says gardening has not only alleviated his stress, but also has helped him to deal with his emotions.

"Gardening has helped me become more patient," he says. "It helps me get my frustrations out."

For the majority of juveniles, the experience is new. The young men say their initial motive was to get extra time outside.

"Being out here makes time go faster," Efrain,18, says. "It takes your mind off things."

Over time, the young men admit, the program has become much more.

"I've never done anything like this before. It's nice, the fresh air, the smell of flowers." Efrain says. "It feels nice to do something good."

Planting a seed

Mark Stites, a senior group counselor at the youth detention facility, started the juvenile hall garden program in 2004. But when Stites was transferred to another facility, the program was discontinued.

Hobbs heard about the program and wanted to start it back up, but there was no available funding. The program's future looked bleak.

Hobbs credits Elsa Henriquez, a supervisor at detention facility, for the program's rebirth.

"She would arrange for supervision of the boys, and if no one was available she would supervise them herself during the Saturday sessions," Hobbs says.

With Willow Glen Baptist Church and the Scales of Justice Lions Club providing pots and tools, and master gardener Jonica Dunn of Willow Glen donating plants and seeds, Hobbs had the momentum she needed to get the program back on track.

Hobbs says the program reached a milestone when she got the OK for young men from the high-security ward--who have only one hour a day outside their cells--to work in the garden.

"These guys need support, and I'm willing to lend them a hand," says Russell Waite, a volunteer who taught the youth how to install a sprinkler system. "It's always good to give something back."

Recently Hobbs added a classroom component that in the future will include a nutritionist, master composter, horticultural therapist and bonsai instructors.

Hobbs has helped hundreds of at-risk youths, through Catalyst for Youth, which was established in 2002.

Along with the gardening program she has helped create a number of programs including art and dance at juvenile hall.

"The kids can't rehabilitate by isolation," Hobbs says. "They need exposure to new and different ideas."

Hobbs says it's important for her to reach out to those incarcerated, because the inmates and supervisors don't always get the help they deserve.

"The problem is the kids are in overcrowded facilities and there aren't enough workers. The supervisors don't get credit for all the hard work they do," she says. "I'm hoping to revamp juvenile hall, one program at a time."

To make a donation or volunteer, contact Joanne Hobbs at 408.269.3356. For more information on Catalyst for Youth and the gardening program, visit www.catalystforyouth.org