Warren County Probation Department Teaches Life Skills Through Gardening

The Warren County Probation Department has instituted a program to teach life skills to young people who are put on probation through gardening. Leaders of the program hope that this program will better prepare youths on probation for their lives to come.

Thursday, July 20th was an uplifting day for the staff of the Juvenile Unit of the Warren County Probation Department – it was the day the first tomato was harvested from the new garden being minded by the agency’s youth probationers, under the supervision of their probation officers!

As of early August, six youth have been spending parts of their supervisory visits with Probation staff planting, weeding, watering and tilling in the “Warren County Youth Garden” in what was a vacant field at the Municipal Center. It sits near a perennial wildflower “pollinator” garden that has taken shape the last few years.

The vegetable garden rules are spelled out in bright lettering on a sign outside the garden fence – work hard, be kind, stay on the path, pick up after yourself, and be respectful.

The summer weather has made for challenges, with extra watering needed in June before the summer deluge began… But a robust crop of veggies is shaping up, to be eaten by families of the probationers and donated to community organizations. As is the case with many gardens, there will be a ton of zucchini!

One teen probationer who has been most active in the garden is Caleb, 16, from Lake George, who said: “I go to the garden, let out my stress, with all of these plants, I am feeling blessed. I look forward to coming to the garden. Our garden has helped me learn how to take care of plants, and be part of a team that is responsible for them.”

Amy Secor, supervisor of the Probation Department Juvenile Unit, said: “When we have juveniles who are put on probation, we do an initial assessment that includes learning their interests. During a recent assessment, a number of them said gardening was an interest. We did some research and found there are mental health benefits to gardening, and life skills that our youth will gain from this as well. Our probation officers have been relentless in attending to the garden and ensuring that our youth are building skills through creative alternatives to supervision.”

Special thanks for this project goes to Warren County Buildings and Grounds and Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District, who provided vital assistance in getting the program off the ground.

Amy Secor noted that “Jim Lieberum and Jake Dunkley, from Warren County Soil and Water, really impressed me with their willingness to provide us with grant funding and support to start the project as well as offered ideas and resources that we can use for future collaborations. The Building and Grounds crew are invested in the garden as well. They check on it regularly and check in with us to see how things are going. They have made it a fun project for all of us, not just the youth. “