Sustainability behind bars! New Village Press recently released James Jiler's remarkable book Doing Time in the Garden about in-prison and post-release horticultural training programs at Rikers Island.

Many of us knew that Rikers has one of the largest solar PV arrays in NYC, as well as a major compost project - but who knew how gardening was being utilized to transform lives?

Detailed on the website of the New York Correction History Society, there's also a wonderful quote about Doing Time in the Garden by the venerable Van Jones, founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights: “James Jiler's book outlines perfect models of meaningful green-collar jobs training. This is restorative economics at its best--the surest path to safe streets and peaceful communities.�

A sustainable future includes everyone. New Village publications have a wonderful way of highlighting successes that can inspire each of us to do much more...hats off to Lynne Elizabeth, the tireless and visionary director of this national publishing project of Architects / Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility.