The State Penitentiary has added another project that inmates can get involved in.

The prison has built an area for planting produce.

They will be donating the produce grown at the prison to the soup kitchen and Ruth Meiers.

The residents say they're excited to be a part of something bigger.

Behind the fences at the State Pen, three inmates are a part of a plan bigger than the correctional system.

"Knowing that the work that I'm doing now, is going to help feed some of that and feed some of them people is extremely important to me and very exciting," said inmate Chris Vernon.

Peppers and tomatoes are just some things they are growing this summer.

"Some of the guys that I'm working with me, they've never gardened at all before. It's a learning experience for everybody," said inmate Timothy Klose.

A sip of water getting them through the afternoon sun.

Department of Corrections physician John Hagan said: "The produce will be great. The way we're helping, we're not helping grow produce We're growing residents, we're growing the socialization and giving them pride back."

The planting area built with a more than $9,000 grant given to the prison with the help of a University of North Dakota student.

"A really great project that's going to be helping a lot of people in the community and throughout North Dakota," said Mandy Slag, UND masters student.

Everyone involved in the project say they're excited to see it grow.

The harvest will be ready in August.

And, they say they're ready to send the produce out into the community.