Entering the "Green Zone"

Yesterday was the first day of my new adventure...behind bars.
At about 9:30am I passed through the metal detector of the Western Missouri State Correctional Facility. About 12 eager gardeners filled the orientation room where we signed more and more papers (who knew?) and were instructed once again on how to roll while behind the fence with razors edge. We had pictures taken for our prison ID's and were each presented with personal body alarms, that had a ripcord to pull in the case that someone needed some assistance from an officer. As usual there is always one in every group that seems to be "challenged" with basic instruction and fortunately that was not me. One of the master gardeners was relentless in engaging her alarm, over and over again. It was a bit humorous, but more annoying. After being properly instructed and equipped, we enter, by fours, the airlock area where you must be assessed and the determination is made whether or not the officer in the main Command Center will let you into the next area, which is the doorway that leads to the main population and the long walk to the prized Green Zone. I must add, that everyone was nice...just very serious. I realized quickly that I am bit silly, and struggled to keep my mouth from spewing the many random and yet inappropriate thoughts that were twirling in my brain. I think I did well for the most part, but I need to do better. NOTE TO SELF. From the time we opened the door on the "other side" we were given a brief tour of the facility. To our right we walked by the Visitor center, Chapel, Chow Halls, the Medical Office, Vocational Training Facilities , the Laundry, and Staff dining hall. To the left is the "Yard" with walking track , football field, and outdoor covered weight lifting area, that was busy with inmates getting some exercise.The housing lock ups loomed in the background, all along men coming and going about their day. It was about lunch time, so we walked through a busy sidewalk full with inmates looking to see what awaited them in the Chow Hall, which consisted of a mystery meat patty, mac and cheese, green beans and cake. There were guards scattered about the sidewalk. I recall about 4 that were armed with sticks, and radios, but no firearms. There was a sense of security as everyone we met was respectful, and most of the inmates looked with curiosity, but in general looked away with brief interest. We walked to the area between the general population, and the Cross Roads facility which is separated by much wire fence and easily recognized by the blue roofs. The area referred to as Cross Roads is an area that houses the "bad boys". They only get out of the cells 1 hour a day, and are rarely allowed outside of the walls of their confinement. Their entire existence is inside the cement walls of the facility, including the opportunity to exercise , where as the area that we were experiencing had a campus feel. I felt like I was visiting an all male college campus, with the exception that all the males were dressed exactly the same....and we were surrounded by wire! (Maybe some colleges would benefit from wire? Let's not go there, Kathy!)
The Green House is located between the two areas. As we approached the Green House, I could feel the excitement grow, and as the C/O lifted the garage door that leads into the house, it smelled like heaven. Well maybe not exactly heaven, but the air was humid, and you could smell soil. There were lots of tables made from steel and wire fence where soon there will be budding plants that will be enjoyed by many this summer season. At one point the sun came out and it felt hot in the house...nice treat for winter. As we explored the facility, there appeared to be some confusion on where we would begin this adventure. Assistant Warden Clevenger has had experience with green houses and the planting process, and we looked to him for some guidance and direction. As my friend Vicki and I started to become inpatient with the lack of clear direction , two of the inmates that would be assisting us appeared as the door slid open and the cool air rushed in. Offender's Kerry and Choppy arrived to get the party started. they had previously worked this green house and they appeared to have a plan! Hallelujah!
Just as they started getting things ready to roll, a suggestion was made to take a lunch break. So once again entered the main population, and walked to the Staff Dining and were treated to a free lunch. The meal consisted of the same items offed to the inmates. The hall was clean and the offenders that worked the food line were gracious and clearly took pride in their work. They also bussed the tables when we left. The service was great and the food was palatable, however I passed on the meat. I just didn't want to go there! I wasn't sure of the bathroom situation and knew that it was not my desire to take a chance on the first day of my new adventure..if you know what i mean?!
Upon our return to the house, our two helpers had things ready for us to begin and we quickly got into the business of planting. We are planting flowers at this point,as they need more time to germinate. We planted the tiniest seeds I have ever seen, 20 in a row directly on top of the soil, some of which I dumped on the ground right out of the gate! 100 of the seeds comes in a little vial, and cost about $12.00. I think I eliminates about $4 worth...at least! Oh well....I will learn from that one,( Sorry, Cliff ) and put an extra 10 spot in my offering this week just to be sure. LOL!
We planted for a short time, and the containers were moved to heating pads where the seeds will be encouraged to sprout and our new friends Kerry and Choppy ( along with a few others that we have not met yet) will make sure they are watered and the heating pads are doing their jobs. Before we left ,we did have the pleasure of meeting a gentleman referred to has Ole' Hillbilly ( I think) who will be serving the greenhouse as well. We left as he was spraying off the planting trays to be used by the next group, which is at the facility as I write. Now we wait for things to sprout, so that we can plant more , as soon as the heating pads are available for the next crop of planted trays.
One important note.We were given a tour of the restrooms close by the house. They are contained in a machine shop were the offenders and staff work maintenance. It feels like the shop at ABF where Mr. P works. They are close and clean and they have a door that locks! YEA for me. This will allow me to be properly hydrated through my adventure. It's the little things sometimes.
We said our goodbyes to our new friends and left the prison through all the procedure in which we arrived. As I drove away, I felt a sense of God's protection and goodness in my life, and the blessing of knowing I was going home to a life a freedom and opportunity that I often take for granted. Okay...I take for granted every minute of everyday! This might just be part of what God is teaching me as I enjoy this adventure. I pray that my eyes and heart are wide open. I pray that in some way God uses me to bless those the I connect with. I pray that I grow and sprout along with the seeds that are planted. I pray that no mater what happens...I can still remain a bit silly and see the humor in life...and God smiling.
So for now....I will keep you posted. Just look for the posts in GREEN for more on the Green Zone

Going Green

Going Green. The term conjures up thoughts of recycling, taking care of our environment, being a good steward of the earths resources, things like that. Is that what your thinking as well? That's not exactly where my mind is traveling. Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of taking care of our environment. I recycle, much to my husbands annoyance. He keeps reminding me of how God will make the earth new and all of this mess will be a faded memory. I still seems like we should try our best to care for the earth, and also being good stewards. If you know me at all, I am a bit OCD about not being wasteful. Time, money, food....you name it. I loathe waste. It seems wrong on every level. All of that to say the idea of taking care of business is a thumbs up for me!
The green I am pondering is the color green, and then some. Okay...I bet you are now thinking green beer, and St. Patty's Day. No not that green, but the green I dream of is green grass, green plant and now a greenhouse. Specifically the green that grows as Spring comes near. Normally about this time of year, I sit quietly in my chair with magazines,books, and catalogs surrounding me as I finger through the pages and pages of glorious blooms that I long for. I take my mind to a place so real, that I can see it, and smell it. I feel the warmth of the sun and sense the moist air of freshly sprinkled tender plants that drink up all the H2O they can swallow. I can picture myself lugging large bags of soil that is necessary to begin the bedding of the new treasures I have purchased from here ,there and yon. This winter is a bit different. My addiction to green is taking me on paths less traveled. Actually for me this is entirely new "turf". Something new, and something different. The road leads to Cameron. To be exact, the Western Missouri Correctional Facility. Now, there's certainly something new for me. Fortunately, I have personally never had to enter the gates of this facility, or any other with such a title. I own no bragging rights to this statement. I will admit that I have walked a youthful and very rebellious road that could have lead to such confinement. Simply said, I never got caught! Whether it be Gods grace or the act of being really sneaky, the fact is that as I approach the day that I enter the protected boundaries of the correctional faculty, I will give thanks that I come as a volunteer, not an inmate. I could not imagine a life with such limitations. I really like my freedom and being locked behind the razor edged fence is not my idea of life. Back to the green. This particular faculty has a green house. Yes, GREEN HOUSE. Who knew? Not I. But once I knew, and once the word on the street was that Cliff Harper was making plans to take a team to work with inmates in the green house , I couldn't say quickly enough "Sign Me Up!". But woooo, lets slow down, Kathy! Little did I know getting into the prison was so difficult. I guess I could have just committed a crime, but then there is that volunteer status that I desire to hang on to,and all my luck I would end up in a place without a greenhouse, and I would be upset. Very upset! Anyway, the first step was signing up for the team, the second was a brief signing interview where I signed so many papers you would have thought I was purchasing a house, to include some paper work that agreed I would not have sexual relations with any of the inmates or supervisors. Who knew, but I signed happily. Yes,this was something not on my bucket list! From there I took a drug test ( which I passed, in case you were wondering ) in which I was taken to a "secure" restroom where some poor female correctional officer had to do the honors, and then finally to an interview where one officer asked me questions and wrote my responses, and another watched me answer. Carefully watched me answer. Can you say creeeeepy! Oh well, I guess they believed that I had no sinister reasons for wanting to enter the faculty. I am sure there are desperate women who might want to find a man badly enough to look for one that's locked behind bars, and then there are those that try to bust out loved ones, or some that just like bad boys. None of which is on my radar. From the interview I had to plan for Tb testing (round one of two is complete) Hepatitis injections, training with another correctional officer, and hopefully finally to the prized GREENHOUSE! Oh my gosh....all this for green!
Truly, I can't wait. I am excited and am anticipating a surprise or two to come from this adventure. Maybe God can use my addiction to green to bring encouragement and friendship to those that live the lives soiled by crime and bad choices. Maybe He will bring the same to my life which has also been soiled by bad choices I might add. I guess we will see. I will keep you posted. For now please pray that God keeps my eyes open to new opportunities and on the path that leads to green!