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Foundations in
Gardening

Seed to Supper, Corrections Edition, plus Advanced Topics

 

SPP and numerous partners collaborated to develop this 4 credit classes that provides the academic fundamentals of small-scale food production as well as the planning critical thinking and observation skills necessary to grow food and beneficial flowering plants. Topics include plant cultivation, healthy soils, garden placement, beneficial insects, and pest management. This course is flexible, designed for the corrections environment, and can be led by a peer facilitator or instructor or peer leader. Where students have access to garden space, the course complements hands-on practices and formalizes gardeners’ acquired knowledge. The class is currently offered at Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Monroe Correctional Complex, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, and the Washington State Penitentiary.

download the course pdf

Program Partners

Course Intent

  • Empower incarcerated individuals to educate themselves and each other with engaging, college-level content.
  • Promote & recognize students’ academic, social, and professional skills.  
  • Build & support positive relationships and partnerships among incarcerated individuals, corrections staff & leadership, and outside partners.
  • Support & improve gardening programs at the host facility.
  • Increase access to fresh produce for the incarcerated population.
  • Increase access to nature & care for living things for the incarcerated population and corrections staff & leadership.
DOWNLOAD THE COURSE PDF

A Foundations in Gardening student poses with SPP Sagebrush Nursery Manager, Gerry Glenn, at a graduation at WSP. Photo by SPP staff.

A gardener poses in the flower garden at AHCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

SPP program participants pose with their certificates of completion after piloting SPP’s first facilitator training course at SCCC with Cyril Waldron and SPP Liaison Autumn Clift. Photo by SPP staff.

Course Learning
Objectives

  • Define basic principles used to plan, plant, and care for small-scale gardens.
  • Classify plants for garden planning, development, and care.
  • Compare the needs of each hardiness zone as it relates to planting and crop selection.
  • Apply mathematical principles to horticulture and phylogenetic trees.
  • Evaluate the historical context of gardening and the influence of colonization through inquiry and class discussions.
  • Design planting plans.

An especially knowledgeable gardener continued his work on the course even after moving to Coyote Ridge Corrections Center. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Course Structure

  • Academic credit: Students can earn 4 credits in Introduction to Horticulture during incarceration through SPP’s Prior Learning Portfolio program at The Evergreen State College or high school credit with HS+.
  • Peer-led: Peer facilitators foster an environment that allows for learning exchanges in which participants can share appropriate and relevant experiences that contribute to the learning community. Peer facilitation training is available through SPP.
  • At least $50 for every student: That’s the printing cost for a 500-page coursebook and every student needs their own. SPP-Evergreen supplies books to all Washington State programs.
  • 100+ hours of content
  •  Supported by staff sponsors: DOC staff support classroom logistics, help track class completion, and provide SPP with student and facilitator feedback.
  • Without electronic equipment needs : No PowerPoints or videos are required to complete the course. Supplemental materials are provided if technology and policy allow.
  • Optional Gardening Practicum: Hands-on gardening is not required to complete this course. However, an optional Gardening Practicum is available if space, time, and policy allow.
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“This is important because we were out of sync at some point of our life, that affected the communities and environments we came from that lead to prison, creating a ripple effect that only we can heal when we’re connected with nature.”

Ben Asaeli
SPP conservation technician

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