Qualities that come with taking care of small, living things - such as gentleness and sensitivity - help an inmate thrive inside and outside the prison walls.
Five years ago, the NYC Department of Correction and the 113-year-old Horticultural Society of New York partnered to offer a restorative justice program there.
"GreenHouse" teaches inmates about the development of a plant, from seed to fruition, while preparing them for employment in landscaping or other green jobs after their sentence ends.
Developing a green thumb can make all the difference.
In 2013, sisters Carrington Morris and Lindsay Morris visited Rikers Island for a story in Edible Manhattan magazine. We've republished their comments and photos with permission. You can find the original article here.