- 2009: we incorporated, recruited a board of directors, achieved our 501.C.3 status from the IRS, and registered with Oregon's Attorney General as a charitable organization. We recruited garden volunteers and established first 7000 square foot garden at Coffee Creek Correctional (CRCI.) and established donation of extra food to local Food Pantry.
- 2010: we were invited into six more prisons, worked closely with three and peripherally with three others.
- Multiple visits and meetings took place with each facility with staff, superintendents, kitchen managers and some inmate gardeners. Maintained communication with all stakeholders.
- We recruited volunteers with organic farm and master gardening experience. Monitored to guide volunteers thru DOC volunteer credential process, manage scheduling, sought ongoing feedback from staff and volunteers, surveyed inmate comments.
- Established pilot classes in one facility, and working with OSU’s Master Gardening Program, were able to establish the Master Gardening program in one facility. All classes were enthusiastically received.
- Helped DOC facilitate donations to the Food Bank - 25,000 square feet of garden was dedicated to growing for this donation, in addition to 80,000 of land under cultivation for prison gardens.
- Most garden space is inside prison walls and tended by inmate gardeners. It is a prized position for an inmate to be selected to work in the gardens.
- 2010 Results: 53,000 pounds of produce grown for facility kitchen use, 19,000 pounds donated to Food Banks Five year plan.
We consult freely with people who contact us from around the country about how we got started. Please contact us directly for more information. To learn more, you can see how we've been covered in the press, including this recent article in the Portland Tribune: "Seeds of Freedom".
Master Gardener class to Lettuce Grow, especially formatted for inmates because of their inability to access the internet.
Growing Gardens donated seed to a fundraiser.
The Oregon Food Bankoffered its expertise from its own garden and farm projects, and access tp a 5-week course called Seed to Table, providing information to inmates on organic gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Food banks received 19,000 pounds of food from our gardens in 2010.