Gardening at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), is fostering rehabilitation for those in the developmental disability program (DDP).
Sarah Parhami, senior psychologist specialist, said prison leadership asked her to create a gardening program for the DDP patients.
“(These patients) don’t come out of their cells much (and) they isolate,” she explained. “It became a 12-week curriculum.”
Watch the video (story continues below):
Another staff member said she enjoys seeing the patients getting into the program
“I just love how interactive the guys get with it,” said Claire Stacy, recreation therapist. “Sometimes it’s hard for them to really want to get involved with our groups. I feel like this one, they just kind of jump right and get their hands messy.”
Growing rehabilitation through gardening at LAC
Tanya Stock, a senior psychologist specialist, said she’s seen positive changes in the patients participating in the program.
“When they first started this gardening group, I was walking by the yard (and) one of the DDP patients (said) good morning. He had such excitement about his flowers growing,” Stock said.
Incarcerated participant Robert Willie Frost said nurturing plants is also a way to learn how to nurture relationships.
“(Like a) flower, when they don’t grow, you’re sad,” Frost said. “It’s like, OK, (there’s) something that I’m not doing right, (so) let’s try this. Just like with friendship when you do something to a friend and you feel that they’re angry with you or frustrated, you want to correct your behavior.”
The garden program allows participants to learn skills as well as develop perseverance.
“Teach them self-care and the ability to just like, keep trying, keep working on it and something will grow,” Stacy said. “Right now, it’s just our DDP guys but all the guys ask about this group.”
Parhami said the program has been therapeutic for many and they hope to offer it to others in the future.
“Watching life grow from something you actually planted with your own two hands is very rewarding,” she said. “We would like to expand this program.”
Sarah Upfold, another recreational therapist, agreed.
“I just want them to feel like they can try something new, nonjudgmental,” Upfold said. “I hope this is a little start.”
Video, photos by Richard Tan, TV specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
LAC garden program in photos
