In 1995, Oregon passed legislation that mandated every inmate work. Oregon DOC was struggling to create jobs that could provide real work, not just "make work." The Oregon Department of Employment, indicating a sustained need for workers in the growing Oregon horticulture industry, prompted staff at Powder River to investigate a horticulture skills program.
The idea was to integrate cognitive behavioral alcohol and drug treatment with the sobriety of working with plants. Horticulture therapy had proven successful in one correctional facility in Florida, where staff was experiencing 50% less disciplinary problems after "lifers" were introduced to gardening. We felt horticulture could be a valuable addition to clinical recovery work.
In the spring of 1998, with the support of DOC Inmate Work Programs and DOC Correctional Treatment Services, we were able to hire a horticulturist, build a greenhouse and purchase tools. It was the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
Initial reaction to the project was mixed. Security staff saw numerous risks and more monitoring of tools and areas. DOC Administration questioned spending money for horticulture therapy when the legislative mood was more "bricks and bars construction." In the end, an alliance of work programs, clinical practice, security realities and administrative risk taking allowed Powder River to proceed as a pilot horticulture program.
Finding a professional horticulturist with the patience to work with inmates and recognize security needs was our first obstacle. It took six months to find the right person. In the meantime, our greenhouse sat idle, skepticism was increasing and spring was approaching.
In September of 1998 the PRAD Horticulture Program came together. We began a sixteen-week course of instruction in basic horticulture skills. The core curriculum included plant anatomy and physiology, growing structures, plant propagation, integrated pest management, landscape design and vegetable gardening. Each inmate had his own greenhouse table of seedlings and cuttings. They were responsible for the success, or failure, of their table. The personal growth and nurturing = organic growth and nurturing connections were made with little effort. Inmates were responding:
"This is the first time I have done something that has succeeded, all by myself, I’m getting a feeling that I can do anything if I slow down and pay attention to details."
"It gets heavy when you lose a plant you have been trying to save. It sounds crazy from me, but I can relate to loss. I can relate to what I have done to people. They looked at me the way I look at these plants. Don’t do it, please hang in there."
"I can have some real craziness going on in group, or on the unit. I come out here to the garden, and start digging and fussing, I forget about it, I begin to relax. I begin to see things in a less threatening way. I go back, I’m OK, I figure out it is me just wanting my way or being bull-headed again."
"I grew dope for years. I never saw myself growing anything legal. I can see growing things that people like to look at, like to see in their garden, I can see running a greenhouse. I never saw anything like that before."
Our program utilizes inmate a work crews that have turned the facility into an island of, vegetable gardens, rose gardens, bedding plants, indigenous flowers, trees, shrubs and lawns. We have graduated over 100 men with the skills to go directly into the horticulture trade. We provide food for the facility and the community programs in need.
In 2003, the funding for the horticulture program was discontinued. Although the green house is now used for other purposes, the propagation of ornamental and vegetable plants not only has continued but has flourished. Inmates, under the supervision of the facility’s Physical Plant staff, and Food Services staff continue to learn horticulture skills and cultivate 3 acres of ground which produces up to 11 tons of produce per year for consumption by inmates at the facility, and generates considerable savings for the Department of Corrections.
