A new program is taking root at the Hernando County Jail.

Inmates are getting a taste for growing their own food. It's a way to save money and create positive reinforcement.

Lettuce is probably not something you associate with jail, but it's being grown inside the walls of the Hernando County Detention Center and inmates are doing a lot of the work.

"We have inmates that are actually doing something instead of just sitting and watching TV and maybe wallowing in the fact they are in jail," said Sheriff Al Nienhuis. "It gives them something positive to do."

They're using hydroponic gardening to grow the leafy veggies.



"The inmates really take ownership and pride in what they are doing here, so that positive reinforcement hopefully will set them in the right direction so they don't come back to jail," he said.

There are other benefits too, like saving some taxpayer money. All the lettuce will be eaten at the jail so that will save almost 250 dollars a month. Deputy Michael Balish says they can grow a head of lettuce in 30 days.

"We have 448 heads of lettuce out here," he said.

Inmate Kyle Ott takes his gardening responsibilities very seriously and he is looking forward to getting this first crop on the dinner table.

"They are going to look at it completely different with all the food they get," he said.

A new program that's providing a lot more than just fresh lettuce.

Jail officials say if the lettuce goes well, they will think about growing some other veggies down the line.