Three years ago, the possibility of growing anything in a bed of cinders would have needed more interest for Bill Robinson. Then, he was a get-down-on-the-knees type of gardener who liked the feel of rich soil under his hands.
He battled bugs and weeds in his small garden and could point with pride to a few small prizes he had taken in home and garden shows. The perfect vegetables he placed on the family table were even more pleasing to him.
But that was before Bill came to prison. Since then, he has learned to do many things he has no interest in. He has learned to make a bed, to keep the house in a 6′ by 9′ cell—and to grow giant plants in a cinder bed.
Planting In The Prison
Just outside the broom shop door, in the shadow of the prison’s 30’ foot wall, lay a barren stretch of ground. Bill worked in the broom shop, and his garden-hungry eyes were drawn to this spot.
It didn’t look very promising, but he didn’t worry about that. He didn’t even care if anything grew or not. He just wanted to garden.
Bill was granted permission by his shop foreman to work the little plot since he always finished his regular work early. But the foreman could have been more enthusiastic. “Other men have tried it before,” he warned, “and they haven’t even grown a blade of grass.”
This didn’t phase Bill. He set out to prove it could be done. For several weeks he happily puttered around, adding a border of bricks to his “garden.”
Whenever the plumbing shop crew had to dig up a pipe, Bill would collect the soil they discarded and add it to his cinders.
He pestered the cooks until they gave him several pounds of used coffee grounds. Just grinning in answer to the inevitable wisecracks, he carried off his treasure.
Planting Worms
The next stop was the recreation yard, where some rose bushes were being planted. Bill followed the man with the shovel, and each time a worm was unearthed, he snatched it. Then, when he filled his tin can with wrigglers, he was off again, leaving behind a puzzled spade wielder.
Bill planted the worms in his garden and gave them the coffee grounds to eat. He watered daily and weeded faithfully, but all he could show for his efforts were some sunflowers and a good tan.
The winter months crawled by for the impatient gardener, but finally, warm weather arrived, and Bill went back to his garden. By this time, other men in the shop had taken up the idea and clamored for a chance to help.
Bill allowed them to dabble in the soil as long as they didn’t get in the way of real work. So every day that summer, Bill could be found watering, weeding, and carefully nursing along his garden.
He had to hold off scores of eager prisoners who threatened to overrun the place like a swarm of locusts.
A Backdrop Of Flower Borders
Diligence brought success. The drab gray prison wall became the backdrop for a border of flowers whose gay brilliance cast a cheerful blessing over the cinder bed.
A small patch of peppers and onions helped relieve the monotony of prison fare. Appreciative friends devoured lettuce and tomato sandwiches.
Bill believes this year will be the finest for himself and the garden. Soon he will be free to leave the prison.
He knows that his cinder bed garden will get loving care from the many men he has inspired and trained. And when he reaches home, Bill is certain it will be for good. After all, a man who can grow things in cinders should find it easy to plant his roots firmly in good soil.
44659 by Bob Neese