Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
| Program | Program Partners | Highlights as of December 2024 |
| Prairie Conservation Nursery | Center for Natural Lands Management, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Oregon Zoo, Friends of Puget Prairies, Wolf Haven International | In 2019, the program had the largest native Viola adunca production nursery in the world! 22 education sessions developed and delivered for cognitively challenged incarcerated students; produced 8 lbs. of early blue violet and 2 lbs of Viola howellii seed; planted out 6 new species to add diversity to seed supply |
| Composting | WCC successfully diverted ~100% of its food waste from the dump to its composting program. The program uses bokashi, worms, chickens, static piles, black soldier flies, and an in vessel system to turn all waste into compost. | |
| Foundations in Composting Curriculum | This curriculum was co-developed at WCC with members of the SPL crew. The program started in 2022 and WCC has had 30 graduates with more classes coming soon. | |
| Beekeeping, “Intensive Bee Management Unit” | Olympia Beekeepers Association, Washington State Beekeepers Association | 17 new beginner level beekeepers were trained in 2024. The program has 5 strong hives. |
| Gardens and greenhouses | Thurston County Food Bank, The Saint’s Pantry Food Bank, Matlock Community Church, Hoodsport Food Bank | Despite these limitations, 15 crew members grew 30,140 lbs. on the 1.4 acre garden with 50% given to local food banks. |
| Flower gardens | Flower gardens throughout the campus | |
| Horticulture | Centralia College | Program ended in April 2019 |
| Potted plants and plant starts | Kiwanis Hoodsport; Saints Pantry Food Bank | For 2020, crews grew the requested starts for Kiwanis but they unfortunately could not accept them due to COVID-19 restrictions and donated them back to the prison. In 2019, crews grew 2,782 starts for the 2019 Hood Canal Kiwanis Spring Plant Sale; donated 800 plants to Saints Pantry Food Bank; gave away 1,503 to staff and incarcerated individuals’ families at various events |
| Construction: bus stops, tiny homes, Neighborhood Pantries, bird houses | Centralia College, Kiwanis Hoodsport, Hood Canal School District | Temporarily suspended due to COVID-19; Carpenters obtaining college credit while working on neighborhood projects: starting to build tiny homes; built and donated 3 bus stops; built 9 more pantry boxes for Kitsap neighborhood food sharing; bird boxes for WCC grounds. |
| House plants | Plants in all shared and staff areas, provided and maintained by Grounds Maintenance crew | |
| Large-scale composting | In 2023, they composting 33,948 lbs. | |
| Waste sorting & recycling | All cardboard has been going to Mason County Garbage for recycling. WCC hopes to purchase an industrial shredder to keep that carbon on site. |
Articles about WCC
2019
Welcoming New Roots Instructors!
2018
Cross Pollination: Violet Program Presents in the Workshop Series
Workshop series expands to WCC! (take two)
Blooms & Blossoms at Washington Corrections Center
Workshop series expands to WCC! (take two)
2017
Farm to Table Celebration at WCC
Nature Imagery in Prisons Project
2016
Lecture Series expands to Shelton
2015
Team building for native violets at Washington Corrections Center
Beds for Violets at Washington Corrections Center: Building SPP’s newest conservation nursery!