Olympic Corrections Center staff describe their composting program to Joslyn Rose Trivett; they process the most organic waste of any prison in the state. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

After he releases, greenhouse technician Mark Case hopes to have his own garden -- a place where he can act on the knowledge he’s gained working and learning in the gardens at OCC. Photo by Bethany Shepler.

Jeff Burch cleans the pond outside his living unit at Olympic Corrections Center; he said, "This is what I do in my free time. This is my peace of mind." Photo by Ricky Osborne.

A dog trainer at OCC gets ready to give Buddy a treat. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Olympic Corrections Center (OCC)

Program	Program Partners (partner with DOC, Evergreen, or both)	Recent highlights – updated August 2019
Community College Horticulture	Peninsula College, Sunshine and Rainbows Child Development Center, Forks Gamers Group, Sarge’s Place for Homeless Vets	Reduced number of students this year. Even so, obvious garden expansions. Added drip irrigation, biodegradable plastic, and new cover on greenhouse; raised ~$500 from spring plant sale, funding program equipment and supplies.
Gardens	Peninsula College, Sunshine and Rainbows Child Development Center, Quileute Tribe	24,000 ft2 of gardens, 4,000 ft2 greenhouses; rain garden cleans runoff from greenhouse and slowed erosion; 2018, donated 850 lbs of vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs to daycare’s summer meal program (students voted to choose recipient)
Pollinator-friendly plantings	Peninsula College	All greenhouse plants selected to benefit pollinators; in past year increased plantings for pollinators, including natives
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets	Peninsula College	Each living unit has several garden beds for residents; hanging baskets and flowering beds throughout staff and incarcerated population areas; in 2019, expanded flower gardens to outside perimeter, encircle greenhouses, and plant pollinator friendly plants
Water features		Two living units have fish ponds; the other has a fountain and basin
Waste sorting & recycling		On the job training for incarcerated technicians; recycled 28 tons of cardboard and 18 tons of scrap metal in past year
Large-scale composting	CBCC, Kalaloch Lodge	Processed ~158 tons of food and yard waste from OCC and CBCC; produced ~ 54 tons of finished compost; on job training for equipment and safety; use compost throughout the facility to build up soil; lost bulking agent (wood chip) source and now have to buy their own
Waste Water Treatment	Washington Department of Ecology (DOE)	Dept of Ecology’s Outstanding Performance Award again/as usual! DOE 100% compliant 8 years in a row; since 2002 38 incarcerated technicians trained to Waste Water Treatment Operator 1 / 2 level; many reported work in WWT following release
Water catchment		Two 2,100 gal tanks; red faucets for rainwater watering
Solar power		Installed 5k watt solar array has produced 8,383 kWh of electricity
Wood shop	Quileute High School scholarships ,Cherish our Children, and Forks Lions Club, CASA, Quillayute Valley School District, Relay for Life, Forks Chamber of Commerce, Timber Museum, Olympic Anglers, Calm Waters and Forks Soroptimists, Olympic Peninsula Humane Society; wood provided by Westport Shipyard and OCC Community Crews (Department of Natural Resources)	Every year OCC donates outdoor furniture, wood toys and games, and other crafts to Quillayute Valley School District Scholarship auction; 2019 donated 78 items raising $16,970 for scholarships
Dog training and adoption	Olympic Peninsula Humane Society	Adopted out 35-40 dogs this past year; adoption rate is 92%; 207 dogs since start of program in 2010
Green Building	Peninsula College	Program ended December 2018
Firewood	Olycap, Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction, Lake Quinault Fire Department, OCC Community Crews (Department of Natural Resources)	Cut and donated 190 cords of firewood in past year; donation to Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction raised nearly $6,000
Community Crew	DNR and others	Most activities related to sustainability, e.g., lawn and grounds care, trail improvements, brush cutting, fire wood cutting, weed removal, storm debris clean up, stream restoration, fence construction, green house construction, snow removal (also painting and construction)
Forestry	DNR and others	Off-site crews trained in and practice re-forestation, wood-cutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting and fire prevention; more than 100 hours of wildland fire training

Articles about OCC

2019

Wastewater Treatment at Olympic Corrections Center Continues to Impress

Garden expansion and delicious prison bananas: Olympic Corrections Center Horticulture Program

2018

Sustainability at Olympic Corrections Center