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Sustainability in Prisons Project2021 Annual Report
Contents
Executive Summary: Sustainability in Prisons Project .................................................................................. 1
1. Background Information ........................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................... 5
SPP Mission ............................................................................................................................................... 5
SPP Vision .................................................................................................................................................. 5
COVID-19 Impact Statement ..................................................................................................................... 6
SPP Staff and Organization Chart .............................................................................................................. 6
SPP Advisors .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Staff Development: training, safety, and security .................................................................................... 9
2. Partnerships ............................................................................................................................................ 11
SPP Alignment with Evergreen’s Five Foci .............................................................................................. 12
SPP Alignment with WA Corrections’ Mission & Vision .......................................................................... 13
3. Budget ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
4. Education Programs ................................................................................................................................ 17
Academic Credit ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Education Portfolio and Module Development ...................................................................................... 17
Community College Collaboration .......................................................................................................... 20
Certificates .............................................................................................................................................. 21
Foundations in Composting .................................................................................................................... 21
Roots of Success ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Beekeeping.............................................................................................................................................. 24
Foundations in Gardening ....................................................................................................................... 28
Environmental Engagement Workshop Series ....................................................................................... 28

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

5. Conservation Programs ........................................................................................................................... 29
Conservation Nursery Programs ............................................................................................................. 29
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly (TCB) Program ....................................................................................... 31
Composting ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Western Pond Turtles ............................................................................................................................. 35
Sheep Conservation Program ................................................................................................................. 37
6. Restorative Nature Programs ................................................................................................................. 38
7. Community Contribution Programs ........................................................................................................ 40
Dog and Cat Programs ............................................................................................................................ 40
Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs ......................................................................... 41
Community Work Crews ......................................................................................................................... 45
8. Sustainable Operations ........................................................................................................................... 47
Partnerships ............................................................................................................................................ 47
Program Foundations and Planning ........................................................................................................ 47
Vehicle Fuel Use Reductions ................................................................................................................... 48
Energy ..................................................................................................................................................... 48
9. Sustainability Job Programs .................................................................................................................... 50
10. Research and Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 52
SPP-Evergreen Program Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 52
Research with External Partners ............................................................................................................. 52
Student Theses ........................................................................................................................................ 53
11. SPP Network.......................................................................................................................................... 54
SPP in Washington State ......................................................................................................................... 54
SPP Nationally and Internationally.......................................................................................................... 54
12. Dissemination ....................................................................................................................................... 57
Presentations .......................................................................................................................................... 57
SPP Tours................................................................................................................................................. 57
Academic Publications, Projects, and Internships .................................................................................. 57
Media Coverage ...................................................................................................................................... 58
Outreach ................................................................................................................................................. 58
Appendix 1. SPP Programs in Washington State Prisons, January 2021 – December 2021 ....................... 60
Appendix 2. SPP Partners and Allies in Washington State Prisons ............................................................. 66
Appendix 3. Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 71

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

Executive Summary: Sustainability in Prisons Project
January 2021 – December 2021
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) was co-founded by Washington Department of Corrections (WACorrections) and The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) in 2003 and has grown to include many
partners. Our mission is to empower sustainable change by bringing nature, science, and environmental
education into prisons. The SPP annual report aims to describe all science, environmental education,and sustainability programs occurring in Washington prisons and to acknowledge all contributingorganizations and partners.
While our ability to safely navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety processes has
improved, it was challenging to connect with participants and partners, and report on our collaborative
work over the past year. During this reporting period, we have also experienced tremendous support forthese programs from incarcerated people, corrections staff, and collaborators. Health and safety remain
our top priority. The programs we continued relied on interactions that were masked, socially distant,primarily outside, or in well-ventilated areas. Unfortunately, those programs which rely on gathering
people in larger groups are still suspended. Continuing programs were periodically impacted byquarantines aimed at reducing the spread of COVID. As a result, there were often stretches of time
when SPP staff and partners could not directly deliver education and training.
Despite on-going challenges, the year was also marked by significant successes, frequent adaptation,and resilience. We were able to restart or plan the restart of several programs during this year. We also
developed several new programs and significantly expanded educational resources. Given partner
capacity constraints, we suspect some programs and partnerships are not recognized in this report.

Conservation
Nursery Manager,
Carl Elliott, leads
an education
workshop on thegeology of south
Salish prairies fortechnicians at
WCCW. Photo by
Savannah Richard.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report1With the information we were able to collect from available partners, we can report on 141 science,sustainability, and nature programs in Washington prisons and 181 SPP partner and ally organizations
statewide. We are grateful for the patience, problem-solving, and adaptability of all partners. Posted
below are highlights on select programs and partnerships in 2021, plus goals for the 2022 calendar year.

Highlights 2021
Academic Credit for SPP Education Portfolios: The SPP-Evergreen team worked with Evergreen’s
academic leadership to develop a new education portfolio model. The new SPP Education Portfolios
build on previous program certificates and allow Evergreen to grant academic credit for completed

Sustainability program highlights at Stafford Creek Corrections Center. Photo by Sarah Larson.

education portfolios at a reduced fee. These transferable credits will be granted during incarceration.
Foundations in Composting Course: SPP-Evergreen received funding from a generous donor to develop
a new, peer-led composting education course. SPP staff, incarcerated educators, corrections staff,
composting experts, academic researchers, and environmental education partners developed course
chapters. The new curriculum will be available for use in multiple states in summer 2022.
New Sagebrush Education and Training Program: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife secured
funding through the Washington State Legislature for wildfire recovery. SPP will receive a small portionof funds to develop a new Sagebrush Education and Training program, seed orchard, and nursery. SPPEvergreen staff began developing education materials and operated a small pilot program in 2021.
Developing Education Module Resources: SPP created resources to support education module
development. Education modules are easily available, short lessons on various science, sustainability,

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report2and supporting topics. With these new development resources, we have provided guidance for experts
to create lessons on a variety of topics including climate change, wetlands, general ecology, and more.
Restarting Western Pond Turtle Program: WA Corrections and Evergreen worked with partners torestart the Western Pond Turtle program at Cedar Creek Corrections Center. WA Corrections staff
identified a new location and remodeled a building to accommodate the program. SPP staff revised
program procedures and developed new education resources. Turtles arrive in early in 2022.
Zero Emissions Vehicles: WA Corrections supported Coyote Ridge, Airway Heights, and Washington
Corrections Centers to purchase 11 zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) for use in perimeter patrols. ZEVs will
yield reduced emissions, fossil fuel use, and expense as these perimeter patrol vehicles operatecontinuously.
Improving Access to Garden Produce: SPP-Evergreen graduate student staff and volunteers researched
and interviewed programs across the country to identify methods to improve incarcerated peoples’
access to fresh produce in prisons. With WA Corrections support, the SPP team developed a three-phaseaction plan to identify and address current barriers in WA prisons for implementation in 2022.
Data and Analytics Tool: WA Corrections deployed Asset Planner to all major facilities. With this new
data and analytics tool, WA Corrections can track facility conditions, energy, and sustainability data,building renewal projects, and maintenance to improve living conditions and sustainability.
Foundations in Gardening and High School Plus: SPP launched Foundations in Gardening course
summer 2020. In 2021, innovative staff at Clark College and Larch Corrections Center partnered to offer
the course to incarcerated students to earn high school credit through the High School Plus program.
Expanding Evergreen Education for Currently and Previously Incarcerated Students: SPP-Evergreen
staff worked with college leadership, faculty, and staff to develop a funding proposal for the legislature.
The request increases access to Evergreen education in prisons. Funding will allow SPP to expand our
new credit-bearing education portfolio model and offer more science and sustainability education.
Table 1. Anticipated Program Highlights, 2022
Program/Project

Partners and facility

Additional Education
Modules

All facilities

Garden to Kitchen
CollaborationPeer-Led Composting
CourseDevelop Credit-Bearing
Education Portfolios for
Select Programs

All facilities, incarcerated
students, corrections staff,
garden and kitchen experts, SPPEvergreen
All facilities, incarcerated
students, staff sponsors andexperts
All facilities

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

Planned outcomesWorking with Evergreen faculty to develop
modules on professional development &climate change
Deploy report request & use information to
identify successes & barriers; deliver
educational webinars for gardeners & kitchenmanagers to generate ideas for improvements
Complete development of new peer-led
composting course; work w/partners to
implement program in WA & NV prisons
Using the new approved model, complete
education portfolio development,
implementation & course credit review

3Expanding Evergreen
Education in Prisons

6 WA prisons and youth
detention facilities

Sagebrush Education &Training

WA State Penitentiary (WSP)

Connecting SPP
Education & Training
and Post-Release
Employment

WA Corrections HQ, all facilities,
state agencies & conservation
organizations

Add staff to expand science & sustainability
education; collaborate w/Evergreen & othereducation orgs to improve education services
Work w/WSP staff & natural resource orgs todevelop the new sagebrush education &training program
Building on work w/WA Dept. of Transportation& WA Corrections, identify connections
between in-prison education & post-release
employment; develop identified support
resources to ensure successConclusion
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to SPP over this past year and beyond. Your support,
continued investment, and dedication to this work are deeply appreciated. We make productive use of
all resources we are provided to benefit all participants and partners. Our collaborations among
incarcerated people, corrections staff, scientists, students, agencies, and organizations are impactful
and innovative. We remain committed to learning, adapting, and continuing to improve our work while
fostering a culture of mutual respect and consistent compassion for all people. Together we aresupporting empowering education and positive change for people, communities, and ecosystems.

Butterfly mural at Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, painted by a previously incarcerated butterfly
technician. Photo by Kelli Bush.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report41. Background Information
This report provides information on Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) activities from January –December 2021. Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections) considers all science,sustainability, and nature initiatives in Washington (WA) prisons to be part of the SPP partnership
regardless of which partner(s) leads and operates the program. Sustainability in Prisons Project staff at
The Evergreen State College lead the reporting effort for the partnership. The primary objective of thisdocument is to update all collaborators and stakeholders on statewide programs and activities. This
report represents the most complete information available with current reporting mechanisms.
Scientists, incarcerated people, students, prison staff, and community partners in all 12 Washington
prisons work together to make positive contributions to people and the environment. During thisreporting period, partners reported 141 programs and 181 partner organizations. Working lists of all
SPP-WA programs (Appendix 1) and partners (Appendix 2) are included to recognize the impressive
diversity and number of opportunities offered. Appendix 3 lists common abbreviations.

Acknowledgements
Incarcerated people are at the center of SPP programs. Their day-to-day input, work, leadership,planning, teamwork, and dedication are critical to program success. SPP programs aim to provide themwith positive benefits including academic credit, professional development, job training, andeducational certificates. Incarcerated and previously incarcerated people advise SPP and provide their
input in program planning and operation whenever possible. They also author education content, help
identify program priorities, and present programs for conferences, tours, and media.
Corrections staff provide key contributions to the SPP partnership. In many cases corrections staff
initiate and operate sustainability programs with incarcerated people without support from otherpartners. For programs that include external partners, corrections staff provide crucial support forplanning, security, communication, corrections expertise, and program supervision. Often corrections
staff make these contributions in addition to their other primary duties.
Many programs also include other partners. These external partners typically provide education,
training, certifications, program/topic expertise, supplies, and materials. Through partnerships we build
networks which focus on positive social and environmental outcomes.

SPP Mission
The Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) is a partnership founded by WA Corrections and The
Evergreen State College (Evergreen). Our mission is to empower sustainable change by bringing nature,science, and environmental education into prisons.

SPP Vision
In response to the dual crises of ecological degradation and mass incarceration, we aim to reduce
recidivism while improving human well-being and ecosystem health. SPP brings together incarcerated
individuals, scientists, corrections staff, students, and program partners to promote education, conserve

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report5biodiversity, practice sustainability, and help build healthy communities. Together, we reduce theenvironmental, economic, and human costs of prisons.

COVID-19 Impact Statement
The on-going coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had unprecedented local and global impacts. These
impacts have been especially hard for the people living and working in prisons. Those of us working with
SPP acknowledge the loss of life and suffering experienced by incarcerated people, their families, andcorrections staff. Our thoughts are with our fellow humans everywhere.
The health and safety of SPP staff, incarcerated people, and WA Corrections staff is our top priority.
Therefore, the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has required that we continue to adapt implementationand operation of SPP programs. We take seriously the significant impact that the virus can have in a
carceral environment. As a result, some SPP programs (e.g., Science and Sustainability Workshop Series)
have remained suspended since March of 2020, especially those programs previously gathering large
groups of participants in indoor spaces. Programs located primarily in outdoor/open air locations, whereparticipants can more easily be socially distanced or supported in smaller cohorts have mostly continued
throughout the pandemic or have moved toward restart in 2022. All programs operate in alignment withstatewide mask, vaccination, and testing mandates. Partners work to ensure access to proper resources
for hand washing and cleaning of high touch surfaces.
In addition to adapting and restarting programs, SPP-Evergreen has continued to focus on education
development over this past year. More information is provided in Section 4 Education Programs of thisreport. We continue to work with WA Corrections to explore the use of available and developing
technologies to increase student access to various remote educational materials.

SPP Staff and Organization Chart

Figure 1. SPP Organizational Chart

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

6The organization chart in Figure 1 includes staff as of December 2021. This chart is limited to core staff
at WA Corrections and Evergreen (SPP-Evergreen), only hinting at the many people involved; there aremany more corrections, academic, conservation, and community organization staff contributing toprogram success.
During this reporting period, the Evergreen side of the SPP partnership continued to be co-directed by
Kelli Bush. Emily Passarelli joined the SPP-Evergreen team as Program and Outreach Manager in April
2021 and Carl Elliott continued in his role as Conservation Nursery Program Manager. Former SPP CoDirector and Evergreen faculty member Carri LeRoy continues to play a critical role in overseeing SPP
program certificates. Numerous additional Evergreen personnel contribute to SPP including but notlimited to Karen Gaul, Tina Pearson, Michelle Bartlett, James Jackson, David McAvity, Kat Sackman, John
McLain, Paul Rudnick, John Carmichael, Dexter Gordon and Evergreen Education Coalition for JusticeInvolved Student members.
Steve Sinclair supported SPP as Co-Director for the WA Corrections side of the partnership through April
2021 and Rob Herzog continued as part of the SPP-WA Corrections Leadership Team through May 2021.
We are grateful to both Rob and Steve for all their contributions to the SPP partnership. Summer 2021,
WA Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange and Deputy Secretary Sean Murphy appointed Assistant
Secretary Mike Obenland as Interim SPP Co-Director for WA Corrections. SPP-Evergreen leadership met
with Mike, Sean, and Cheryl on various SPP initiatives throughout 2021. Julie Vanneste, Chris Idso, andLoretta Taylor also served as part of the SPP leadership team.
Program Coordinator positions are staffed by Evergreen graduate students working 20 hours per week.
Student-staff are typically recruited from the Evergreen Master of Environmental Studies graduate
program, and work for two-year terms. Each summer, several students complete their work with SPP
and train new students to take over their positions. During this reporting period, several program
coordinators and temporary staff transitioned out of their roles. A total of 10 Program Coordinators andtemporary staff worked for SPP: Erica Benoit, Shohei Morita, Carly Boyd, Savannah Richard, Sarah
Larson, Michelle Klim, Jennifer Bass, Derek Thedell, Keira Jensen, and Kimberly Madson. As of December
2021, SPP staffed seven student coordinator positions.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report7A photo collage card put together by the SPP team to say happy holidays to our partners. Pictured left toright from top: Kelli Bush, Emily Passarelli, Carl Elliott, Sarah Larson, Keira Jensen, Carly Boyd, Michelle
Klim, Savannah Richard, Derek Thedell, and Jennifer Bass.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

8

SPP Advisors
The Advisory Panel provides expertise, creative thinking, advice, and assistance with SPP initiatives andprogram development. During this reporting period, SPP did not convene a meeting of our Advisory
Panel. Instead, we regularly consulted individuals to advise and guide our work during this challenging
time. We frequently consulted previously incarcerated people, SPP co-founders, faculty, and leadershipof multiple organizations. The guidance provided was critical and very valuable as we worked tocontinually adapt to changing circumstances. SPP intends to rebuild and restructure our advisory panel.
As in previous years, panel members will include formerly incarcerated people, corrections staff,
scientists, practitioners, and academics.

Staff Development: training, safety, and security
Programs are operated in compliance with WA Corrections safety and security rules, SPP-Evergreen
protocols for working in the prison environment, and partner protocols for work with plants andanimals. Please see the COVID-19 Recognition section above and specific program sections to learn
more about adjustments made in response to COVID 19.
All SPP-Evergreen staff completed required WA Corrections training. Security is a topic included on every
SPP-Evergreen staff meeting agenda, held every two weeks. SPP-Evergreen staff have maintained ourcommitment to be adaptable to changing safety and security needs. Posted below are trainings SPPEvergreen staff completed during this reporting period.
Table 2. SPP-Evergreen staff training for 2021.
Name of Training

Hrs/Staff
PersonTrainer

Description

WA Corrections: Security
Training

WA Corrections
OnlineProper Use of PPE, Initial Safety Orientation,
Policy & General Info, WA State Sexual
Harassment Prevention, Mandatory Reporting,Confidentiality, WA State Ethics, Infectious
Disease Prevention, Office of Ombuds, ADA
Reasonable Accommodations, Slips, Trips &Falls I & II, Outdoor Heat Exposure, Fire
Extinguisher, Asbestos Awareness I & II, Public
Disclosure, WA State IT Security Awareness,
Naloxone13

WA Corrections: Federal
Prison Rape Elimination Act(PREA) Training

Online; Annual
requirement

PREA Training

2

COVID-19 Safety Training

Online; SPP staff

Evergreen & WA Corrections COVID-19 Training& Safe Reentry Planning

10 (ongoing)

SPP-Evergreen: Working in
Prisons

Carl Elliot
w/other SPP
staff; on-line

Extensive training utilizing common scenarios
encountered by SPP staff working in prisons8

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report9Language Impact,
Reentry/Education
Navigator & LivedExperience of Incarceration

James Jackson

Respectful language for previously incarcerated
population; reentry/education navigation
services; and lived experience of incarceration& education

1

Roots of Success Curriculumand Lived Experience ofIncarceration

Grady Mitchell

Lived experience of incarceration & reentry;
experience as ROS Instructor & as new
Corrections & Reentry Program Director for ROS

1

New Employee Orientation

Emily Passarelli
w/other SPPEvergreen staff

Welcome to SPP, Program Operation/Admin.,Taking Care of Yourself at SPP, Communication,& Time Management

10

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report102. Partnerships
Partnerships and collaboration are an essential component of SPP efforts and nearly every SPP program.
We continually work to identify new partners and mutually beneficial programs. A working list of SPP
partnerships, allies, and contributors is included as Appendix 2; during this reporting period, more than
181 different organizations contributed to SPP programs in WA.
At the program level, the founding partners are often joined by one or more additional partners whobring vital expertise, resources, and/or skills to the program. We aim to recognize each contributor for
their role and the program belongs to all. Figure 2 offers an illustration.

Figure 2. SPP generalized program structure.
Roles played by each partner vary to fit program focus and needs. In general, WA Corrections andpartner organizations provide primary leadership for Sustainable Operations and Community
Contribution programs, and SPP-Evergreen leads Environmental Education and Ecological Conservation
programs. However, input and expertise from all stakeholders (including incarcerated people) is criticalto program success—the partnership is the program!
SPP is continually investing in new partnerships. In the coming year, we are exploring several newconnections to increase access to nature, science, and environmental education. We aim to learn from,grow with, celebrate, and share our experience with collaborators to better serve currently andpreviously incarcerated people. Working collectively, we are much more likely to create positive change!
Developing Partnerships:
Much of the work we do with partners and allies is highlighted in various sections throughout thisreport. A few notable collaborations we cultivated during this reporting period are briefly described
below.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report11Composting Education Development:
SPP-Evergreen partnered with incarcerated educators and composting technicians, corrections staff,
University of WA faculty, Institute for Applied Ecology, Tilth Alliance, and generous donors to plan andcreate a new Foundations in Composting Course. This course will be available in multiple states.
Environmental Education Collaboration (Pacific Coast):
SPP-Evergreen staff partnered with Insight Garden Program, Institute for Applied Ecology/Sagebrush in
Prisons, and University of California Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science to develop afunding proposal for the Mosaic Foundation. While we were unsuccessful in securing funding, we diddevelop a compelling proposal for learning exchange and collaboration among our organizations. We
intend to continue working to identify funding that will allow us gather and share resources across ourorganizations.
Expanding Prison Education in Partnership with Evergreen:Over the past year, SPP-Evergreen staff have increased collaboration with other faculty and staff at theEvergreen State College. We are working with faculty directors and staff from the Center for
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Transformational Change (CELTC) and the Center for Climate Action andSustainability (CCAS) to develop new education modules which can be available via SPP programs. In
addition, SPP-Evergreen staff helped plan and develop a legislative funding proposal to expand
education for currently and previously incarcerated students and worked with Academic leadership todevelop a new credit-bearing model for SPP programs through Evergreen’s Prior Learning from
Experience program.
Olympia Community Solar
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Olympia Community Solar staff presented at SCCC as part of SPP’s
Environmental Workshop Series; they described the experience as impactful. In November 2020,
Olympia Community Solar approached SPP about donating packets of solar energy education materials
to incarcerated people in Washington prisons. In Spring 2021, they donated packages including 5 books,
manuals, and certification guides plus editions of a solar energy magazine. SPP delivered these materials
to six western Washington prisons. In the future, we hope to expand this effort to include a solar energy
training and certification course.

SPP Alignment with Evergreen’s Five Foci
Evergreen’s approach to education is best illustrated by The Five Foci of Learning:
1. Interdisciplinary Study: Students learn to pull together ideas and concepts from many subject
areas, which enables them to tackle real-world issues in all their complexity.
2. Collaborative Learning: Students develop knowledge and skills through shared learning,rather than learning in isolation and in competition with others.
3. Learning Across Significant Differences: Students learn to recognize, respect, and bridge
differences—critical skills in an increasingly diverse world.
4. Personal Engagement: Students develop their capacities to judge, speak, and act on the basisof their own reasoned beliefs.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report125. Linking Theory with Practical Applications: Students understand abstract theories by applying
them to projects and activities and by putting them into practice in real-world situations.
SPP engages incarcerated students and technicians, enrolled Evergreen students and faculty, corrections
staff, state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in collaborative, interdisciplinary learning
across differences. Our science and sustainability education programs are aligned with the social justice,diversity, environmental stewardship, and public service elements of Evergreen’s mission.
SPP’s Environmental Education and Conservation programs are coordinated by Evergreen graduate
students whose experiences encompass and exemplify all five foci. Since 2009, SPP-Evergreen has
employed over 60 Evergreen students in long-term positions and provided honoraria or internshipstipends to dozens more. Through SPP, the incarcerated participants of education and conservation
programs also gain access to the Evergreen learning model, thus sharing in the benefits of thisinnovative interdisciplinary approach. An increasing number of former SPP program participants areattending Evergreen post-release—contributing their valuable experiences, assets, and skills directly to
our campus learning communities.

SPP Alignment with WA Corrections’ Mission & Vision
From WA Corrections’ website:
Mission: To improve public safety by positively changing lives
Vision: Working together for safer communities
The Department of Corrections is committed to operating a safe and humane corrections system andpartnering with others to transform lives for a better Washington. A key value of WA Corrections is
supporting people's success: understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing
opportunities. Through the SPP partnership, WA Corrections brings science, nature, and environmental
education into the state’s prisons. These programs create a safer and more humane correctional
environment, provide opportunities for incarcerated individuals to achieve academic and vocational
goals, and contribute to their successful reentry to our communities.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report13

3. Budget
This section of the report addresses budget resources specifically available via the SPP team at The
Evergreen State College (SPP-Evergreen). Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections) andother partners dedicate substantial, additional personnel time, funding, and materials support for SPP
programs. Those critical contributions are not detailed here. While Evergreen does not provide direct
funding for SPP, they make important contributions by providing office space, payroll processing, accessto students and faculty, human resource services, and budget management support.
During this reporting period, SPP had approximately $550,000 in funds available from 13 sources.
Available funding included one contract per fiscal year with WA Corrections provided throughinteragency agreement. SPP-Evergreen spent WA Corrections funds on WA prison programs inaccordance with contract requirements. Other funding sources include state and federal contracts,
grants, foundation, and private donations.
An anonymous donor provided a generous gift through the Seattle Foundation. SPP-Evergreen hasreceived funds through this donor over several consecutive years. These gifts have been awarded for
SPP’s general use, and they make a significant difference in the programming, outreach, and education
we are able to provide. In 2021, we specifically used these funds to help support the Taylor’s
checkerspot butterfly program, beekeeping programs, a new collaboration between prison gardens andkitchens to improve access to fresh produce, purchase books, and to advance development of SPP’s new
credit-bearing education model and educational materials.

A honey bee at WSP enjoys a beautiful flower. Photo by Chris McGill.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

14

SPP and the Institute for Applied Ecology’s Sagebrush in Prisons Project, also received an impactful
donation from an anonymous donor to develop a composting education course. With this funding, we
can realize our long-term goal to create curriculum materials which provide foundational education incomposting throughout Washington and other states. More information about this certificate course isincluded in Section 4 Education Programs.
Individual donors continued to contribute to SPP. These donations are commonly used to purchasebooks, program supplies, and beekeeping resources; fund previously incarcerated advisors, trainers, andguest speakers; and develop and print education materials. We appreciate and make positive use of
every dollar of every contribution!
The percentage of funding provided by individual sources varies from month to month as sources
become available or close throughout the year. SPP-Evergreen staff continuously seek new funding andcomplete existing grants and contracts. As we had more time to adapt to the pandemic, SPP-Evergreen
renewed efforts to diversify funding sources in 2021. During this reporting period, SPP-Evergreen staff
were responsible for stewarding funds from the sources described below (see Table 3).
Table 3. SPP-Evergreen Grant and Contract Funding (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
SPP Funding Sources Jan 2021 – December 2021
Funding Period
SourceProgram Area
Grants and Contracts
DOC SPP General Operating

Education & Training, Program Operation(Bees, Gardening, Turtles, etc.), Org Planning

07/01/19 – 06/30/21

JBLM

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

09/28/20 – 03/28/22

DOC SPP General Operating

Education & Training, Program Operation(Bees, Gardening, Turtles, etc.), Org Planning

07/01/22 – 06/30/23

JBLM

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

09/28/21 – 03/28/23

WDFW - Butterfly

Taylor's Checkerspot Butterfly Recovery
Education & Training

01/01/21 – 12/31/21

WDFW - Sagebrush

Shrub-Steppe Conservation Nursery Education
and Training

11/01/21 – 06/30/23

WDFW - Turtle

Western Pond Turtle Recovery Education &Training

09/01/21 – 06/23/23

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

01/01/21 – 10/31/21

Small Service Contracts
USFS - Olympic
WDFW
CNLM
WA DNR
DonationsSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report15

Individual & Foundation
DonationsComposting Course
Donation

Gardening, Beekeeping, Education Materials,
Org Planning, Training, Program Supplies, etc.
Peer-Led Composting Course Development

N/A
04/15/21 – 06/30/22

The majority of SPP-Evergreen's budget is dedicated to personnel expenses. A smaller, but significant
portion goes to program materials such as education supplies, small infrastructure projects, scientificequipment, printed education and outreach materials, and prison libraries.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report16

4. Education Programs
Education continues to be SPP-Evergreen's central focus. We are improving, sustaining, and building
new education, training, certification, college credit-eligible, peer-led, and experiential learning
programs. Over the past year, we continued to face difficulties with restarting programs that involve
outside guests or classroom gatherings due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, this afforded us the time
to make exciting strides towards enhancing peer-led and credit-bearing programs with consistent, highquality education and training. In the sections below, we report on the progress we made on educationin 2021 including successes and challenges of operating established programs and offering newopportunities.

Academic Credit
Over the past several years SPP-Evergreen staff worked with Evergreen State College leaders,
stakeholders, legislators, corrections staff, and other education organizations to identify and remove
barriers to granting credit during incarceration for select SPP programs. This issue has been SPP’s toppriority, and we are pleased to announce considerable progress. In the past, SPP was only able to award
non-transferable academic credit post-incarceration through the College’s Certificated Learning
program. Working with Evergreen’s Academic Leadership team, SPP developed a new credit-eligible
education portfolio model that builds on the College’s Prior Learning Experience (PLE) program. SPP’s
proposed adaptation of Evergreen’s PLE program has been approved.
Expenses for delivering SPP education programs are almost entirely satisfied by multiple grants,
contracts, donations, and associated indirect funds secured by SPP-Evergreen. Given the education
portfolio model SPP is using and the fact that incarcerated students served by these programs do notincur typical faculty or campus expenses, any unmet expenses will be supported by a program fee rather
than full tuition rates. SPP-Evergreen intends to fund the small portion of unmet administrative costs,
through fundraising, donations, and grants. A subset of SPP programs will be eligible for credit under
this new model, summer 2022.

Education Portfolio and Module Development
The SPP-Evergreen team is building PLE-SPP Education Portfolios for most of our environmental
education and ecological conservation programs. SPP staff and partners are developing new educational
components for each program which offer more in-depth learning opportunities, greater resiliency,
improved consistency in how we deliver education, and allows for transferable credit award during
incarceration. The new education portfolio model strengthens the credit-eligible education SPP
previously offered through certificated learning. Portfolios are standardized for each program anddescribe the education and work experience each participant gained. Finalized education portfolios will
include the following components:

Table 4. SPP Education Portfolio Components.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

17Portfolio Component
Certificate
Syllabus
Reflective Writing

Required Educational
Components

Evaluation Template
Portfolio Checklist
Hour and Task Tracking Log
Position Summary (if applicable)

Description
Includes learning objectives, program description, hours, credit
equivalencies and required educational materials such as modules,
workshops, seminars, reading, etc.
Includes learning objectives, program description, and class expectations.
Written by the student, the reflective writing piece allows the student todescribe what they learned during the course.
Modules (SPP and external authored), workshops, education packets,
seminars, procedure and protocol documents, trainings, external
workbook curricula, and supplemental materials; described more in Table
5 below.
Standardized program evaluation based on student’s complete or
incomplete portfolio.
SPP staff and Evergreen faculty checklist to verify when portfolio
components are satisfied for individual students.
SPP staff tracking individual student progress.
Includes description and hours recorded.

Education portfolios components are developed, delivered, and tracked by or with oversight from SPP
staff. Education development support, oversight, credit recommendations, and templated evaluations
for students are provided by Evergreen faculty of record, Dr. Carri LeRoy. Though SPP faculty of recordand Evergreen academic deans had pre-determined credit value for SPP’s previously establishedcertificated learning program model, SPP’s new education portfolios will undergo review to determine
their credit value under the new PLE model. The table below describes the development status ofseveral education portfolios for specific programs as of December 2021. In our next phase of work, SPP
hopes to collaborate with partners to develop additional portfolios for other programs including
Beekeeping, Roots of Success, and the Environmental Workshop Series.
Table 5. SPP Education Portfolio Development Status.
Main Program

Education Output

Status

Butterfly Program

Work Plan

Finalized

Work Plan

Finalized

Syllabus

In DraftWork Plan

In Development

Syllabus

In Draft

Certificate

In Development

Western Pond Turtles

Work Plan

In Development

Conservation Nurseries (Prairie,
Sagebrush, & Wetland)

Syllabus

In Development

Evaluation Template

Finalized

All programs

Reflective Writing Prompt

Finalized

Composting Curriculum

Gardening Curriculum

While prioritizing education that does not rely on technology access and large group gatherings, SPP has
focused our efforts on developing education modules, or stand-alone chapters on a variety of topics.
The core content is written and developed specifically for SPP programs and is coordinated andSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report18

supported by SPP. SPP’s education modules are designed based on the chapters first written for theFoundation in Gardening curriculum. Modules are typically 8-20 pages of print materials and include
integrated pieces such as learning activities, visual aids, discussion questions, and interdisciplinary art,
cultural, or historical context. These modules can be stand-alone lessons or may be combined with othermodules and content to create an SPP education portfolio or course. Some modules are offered in morethan one program or education portfolio.
In addition to developing module content, SPP also collected or developed guidance documents formodule authors. This suite of support documents includes the Module Development Guide, SPP Module
Template, an example module, Tips for Developing SPP Education Materials, Module Style Guide, Tips
for Writing Effective Learning Objectives, and US Department of Human Services Tool Kit for Clear
Writing. This suite will be improved and updated as feedback on these resources is received. Posted
below are education modules that were in development during the reporting period:
Table 6. Education modules under development during the 2021 – 2022 reporting period.
Main Program
Butterfly

Subject
Plant and Pollinator Interactions
Environmental Cycles
Careers in Sustainability
Compost, post-consumer good waste, and theenvironment
Composting Regulations and Testing

Composting Curriculum

Growing with Compost
Alternative Composting
Commercial Scale Composting
Small Scale Composting
Science of Composting
Climate and Geology South Salish Prairies
Vegetation of South Puget Prairies

Conservation Nursery

Ecological Horticulture
Intro to Study Area: South Salish Prairies
Introduction to Study Area Prairies
Ecology
Wildlife

Sagebrush

Restoration
Ecological Horticulture
PolicyWestern Pond Turtles
Free Standing Content

Introduction to Wetlands
Western Pond Turtles
Introduction to Mycology

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report19Community College Collaboration
SPP appreciates and acknowledges the educational offerings of community colleges and other education
organizations. We have a long history of finding ways to collaborate to better serve students. This
reporting period community college staff and faculty went above and beyond to offer their students
meaningful educational opportunities despite countless barriers. In addition to offering their traditionalclasses, Centralia College and Clark College collaborated with SPP to offer new opportunities to reach
two populations that SPP previously had limited contact with, students working toward their high school
diploma and students housed in Intensive Management Units (IMU).

LCC's HS+ Gardening Class TA's get a chance to play in the dirt and prepare for a
new garden. Photo by Lauren Zavrel.

An LCC TA digs in the garden for the first HS+ Foundations in Gardening Class. Photoby Lauren Zavrel.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report20

In partnership with Clark College Corrections Education staff, SPP began offering the Foundations of
Gardening curriculum to High School Plus (HS+) students. This is the first known instance of acommunity college using SPP programs toward high school credit. We anticipate that the developmentof the Education Portfolio will allow more SPP programs to be offered in this capacity. In addition, Clark
College coordinated efforts for an incarcerated individual to author a standalone education module
about mycology.
In partnership with Centralia College Corrections Education staff, SPP will be offering both theFoundations in Gardening Curriculum and beekeeping packets to interested IMU students. During thepilot period of this program, SPP will offer recognition certificates. If successful, SPP will work toward
bolstering the program to offer these students college credit.
Collaboration with Centralia College has also been instrumental in developing the new Foundations in
Composting curriculum. A Centralia College staff member played a key role in curriculum planning,
including suggesting the idea of a culminating project for the course. Additionally, Centralia College staff
offered technical consulting which allowed incarcerated individuals to participate in writing and editing
modules. We plan to continue to foster these partnerships in a combined effort to bring meaningfuleducation to incarcerated individuals.

Certificates
During this reporting period significantly fewer certificates were awarded as many programs weresuspended due to COVID, incarcerated participants were unable to access the program due to frequent
quarantines, programs were in the process of restart, or participants transferred or were released due
to new legislation which changed their eligibility to return to the community. We used this time todevelop our new and hopefully more resilient education model. In this reporting period, we awarded
two SPP certificates that warrant consideration for college credit at Evergreen. Additional “recognition”
awards—not eligible for credit evaluation—are not included in this summary. New SPP Education
Portfolios are being developed to offer education, training, and academic credit over shorter periods oftime.
Additionally, SPP facilitates certificate awards from outside organizations in two additional programs:
 Beekeepers are certified by Washington State Beekeepers Association, and Roots of Success students are certified by the organization Roots of Success.

Foundations in Composting
In collaboration with a generous donor, SPP-Evergreen, the Institute for Applied Ecology, thesustainability team (incarcerated educators and corrections staff) at Washington Corrections Center,
Tilth Alliance, professors from University of Washington (UW), Evergreen Master of Environmental
Studies students, and formerly incarcerated individuals, began planning and developing a new
Foundations in Composting curriculum. This curriculum will cover small-scale and large-scale
composting, soil science, alternative composting methods, and much more. To see a full list of course
modules, please see Table 6.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

21

SPP Composting Coordinator, Derek Thedell, gets familiar with WCC's composting bins. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

The structure of the curriculum is modeled after the composting course first piloted at Monroe
Corrections Complex and the Foundations of Gardening curriculum. Both courses are designed to bepeer-led (delivered by incarcerated facilitators) and have modules that include learning activities, group
discussion, and comprehension questions. The Foundations in Composting curriculum also includes aculminating project as a requirement for students seeking college credit.
This curriculum will also go through the new SPP education portfolio review process to be evaluated forcollege credit. The curriculum is expected to be released in 2022 and will be piloted in Washington
prisons and at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada.

Roots of Success
Roots of Success is an environmental literacy curriculum developed by Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes,
Professor of Urban Studies & Planning at San Francisco State University (more at rootsofsuccess.org).
WA Corrections began offering the program in July 2013 and content has been well-received by many
incarcerated students over the years. Certified incarcerated instructors deliver the program, a modelthat is impactful and effective among students, instructors, and staff sponsors.
During this reporting period, former Roots of Success Master Trainer, Grady Mitchell, was released andjoined the ROS (Roots of Success) team as their new Reentry Director. Grady’s vast knowledge of thecourse, commitment to healthy partnerships, and shared enthusiasm for program impacts have been
great additions to this collaboration. Together we supported three active, full-curriculum programs at

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

22

CRCC, LCC, and SCCC. However, the cohorts at all facilities were smaller and limited due to COVID-19.
Details for this reporting period are shown in the following tables and highlights.
Table 7. Roots of Success Program overview by institution.

AHCC

Status as of
Dec 2021
Suspended*

CBCC

Inactive

CCCC
CRCC
LCC
MCC-WSR
MCCCW
OCC
SCCC

Inactive
ActiveActiveInactive
Inactive
Inactive
ActiveHope to restart classes when safe and facility has capacity.
Program is inactive as the facility currently has no instructors. Hope to revisit
facility interest to restart the program.
N/A
Adapted to offer small cohorts as allowed by COVID-19 and staffing capacity.
One current instructor. Problem solving workbook orders.
Unit on closure list.
Currently no instructor available
N/A
Adapted to offer small cohorts as allowed by COVID-19 and staffing capacity.

WCC

Inactive

Two instructors available. Future plans include identifying a program liaison.

Facility

Notes and future plans

Currently no available instructor or classroom space. Efforts to identify new
instructors and classroom are on hold due to COVID-19.
WSP
Inactive
Program stalled and currently inactive.
3
 number of active programs*Temporarily suspended or placed on hold due to COVID-19
WCCW

Inactive

The full version of Roots curriculum requires 50 hours of classroom time plus substantive time for
instruction prep, workbook review, and administrative tasks. The table below provides information
related to graduates of this full curriculum.
Table 8. Summary of Roots of Success graduates of full curriculum for this reporting period.
Facility

Number of cohorts

Graduates

AHCC

0

0

CRCC

5

28

LCC

0

0

MCC-WSR

0

0

SCCC

2

13

WCC

0

0

WCCW

0

0

Reporting period

741

Total since beginning

140

1607

Teaching Practicum
In partnership with The Evergreen State College and Roots of Success, SPP developed a teachingpracticum certificate that recognizes ROS instructors who have taught three or more classes, or 150+
hours of teaching. In the coming year, SPP will work with ROS to convert the previously establishedSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report23credit-eligible certificate into an Education Portfolio. The new portfolio will be assessed by Evergreen
faculty for credit value. During the reporting period, one instructor from LCC was awarded the teachingpracticum certificate in January 2021.
Education Materials Donations
Roots of Success instructors from various facilities expressed the need for additional educational
materials. We made donations to various programs to diversify their education resources. Additionally,
we purchased environmental books that will be sent to programs throughout the state.
Table 9. List of bonus education materials.
Date
Facility
10/15/2021
LCC
10/15/2021
LCC
Shared with all facilities
Available to all facilities

Item description
Book, What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz
Book, Four Fish; The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg
SPP educational materials index
Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project’s weekly Warbler newsletters

Quantity22

Beekeeping
During this reporting period, we supported four active beekeeping programs at the following facilities:
SCCC, WCC, McNeil Island, and WCC. Unfortunately, 11 facilities suspended the program due to COVID19. In 2022, many programs are working on restart. Details for this reporting period are shared in thefollowing tables and highlights.

Honey beeforaging on awhitebuckwheatblossom at
WCC. Photo by
Laurie Pyne.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report24

Table 10. Beekeeping program status by facility.

AHCC
CBCC

Status as of
Dec 2021
Active*Active*

# of
hives
4
5

CCCC

Suspended

0

CRCC
LCC
MCC-SOU
MCC-TRU

Active*Active*Suspended
Active*

1
5
4
6

MCCCW

Active*

3

OCC
SCCC

Inactive
Active2

Facility

Program Liaison

Partner(s)Kay Heinrich
Faye Nicholas
Jean Anderson
Jerrod Beaulieu
Dorothy Trainer
Shawn Piliponis

West Plains Beekeepers, Inland Empire Beekeepers
North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers Association

Susan Collins
William Anderson
April Henderson

Olympia Beekeepers Association
Mid-Columbia Beekeepers
Clark County Beekeepers
North West District Beekeepers
North West District Beekeepers
West Sound Beekeepers

Kelly Peterson
Olympia Beekeepers Association
Jeff Sanders
WCC
Active*4
Olympia Beekeepers Association
Aundrea Lund
Laurie Pyne
McNeilActive*2
Olympia Beekeepers Association
Dixon Fellows
Muriah Albin
WCCW
Active*3West Sound Beekeepers
Dan Zoolkoski
John Fischer
WSP
Active*8Michael ButlerWest Plains Beekeepers Association
James Atwood*Hives present but classes suspended or placed on hold due to COVID-19

WCC beekeepers checking on the hives to ensure the bees are on track for winter. Photo by Laurie Pyne.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report25

Table 11. Beekeeper certificates awarded during this reporting period by facility.
Facility

Incarcerated students

LCC
MCC-SOU
MCC-TRU
SCCC
Total

Staff students

Beginner

Apprentice

Journeyman

Beginner

Apprentice

6
1
0
30
37

0
1
0
21
23

0
0
0
0
7

0
3
1
1
5

0
3
1
1
5

Beekeeping Program Highlights
 Monthly education packets were distributed with beekeeping-related articles and optional
worksheets. Materials were sent to all 12 facilities; students from three facilities submitted theircompleted packets: 2 from WCC, 23 from SCCC, and 24 from WCCW.
 SPP-Evergreen purchased a one-year subscription to the American Bee Journal (ABJ) to beshared with WA DOC bee programs. AHCC, CBCC, CCCC, CRCC, MCC-SOU, MCCW, WCCW, LCC,
and SCCC received monthly copies beginning in January 2021.
 The beekeeping program at McNeil Island continues to thrive with support from Olympia
Beekeepers and WA Corrections staff. Student beekeepers from CCCC visit the island biweekly
during the summer months to receive education and help take care of the hives.
 Beekeepers at SCCC tested an insulated hive to help the bees survive the winter. Beekeepers
introduced the hive in August 2021 and reported a healthy hive in December.
 We supplied several hives of bees, beekeeping tools, and sugar to MCCCW and WCCW.
 We continue to provide educational materials whenever possible. During the reporting period
we supplied the materials summarized in the table below.
Table 12. List of educational materials donated.
Facility

Item type

SCCC

Book

WCCW

Book

AHCC

Book

All Facilities

Magazine

Item title
The Lives of Bees
Following the Wild Bees
Honeybee Democracy
Honeybee Democracy
Natural Beekeeping
The Lives of Bees
Honeybee Democracy
Following the Wild Bees
Natural Beekeeping
Monthly issues of American Bee Journal

Events and OutreachIncarcerated student beekeepers at WCC harvested fifteen jars of honey. SPP staff Jennifer Bassand Shohei Morita attended the event.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report26August 17, 2021 Incarcerated student beekeepers at WCCW hosted an educational presentation
on varroa mites. SPP staff Emily Passarelli, Jennifer Bass, and Shohei Morita attended the event.

Honey extraction at WCC. Photo by Shohei Morita.

LCC Gardening students provide feedback on the Foundations in Gardening curriculum. Photo by Emily
Passarelli.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report27

Foundations in Gardening
During this reporting period two facilities, SCCC and CRCC, continued to hold classes in the Foundationsof Gardening. Additionally, we donated the following educational guides and books to the gardening
program at SCCC: Gardening Companion Planting chart; The Complete Guide to Companion Planting:
Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Garden Successful; and Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets ofCompanion Planting for Successful Gardening. Finally, SPP also donated materials like wood posts,
fencing materials, soil testing kits, and seeds for LCC’s class to build a garden.

LCC students share their feedback on the Foundations of Gardening Curriculum. Photoby Emily Passarelli.

Two praying mantises found by the LCC Gardening Class. Can you spot them? Photo by Lauren Zavrel.

Environmental Engagement Workshop Series
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the workshop series continues to be suspended to protect the safety of
the incarcerated students, staff, and guest experts. During this reporting period, no workshops were
offered. There are currently no plans to restart this program, but we remain hopeful that this program
will resume when deemed safe.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report28

5. Conservation Programs
SPP’s conservation programs encompass a huge range of goals, activities, and topics, though all share
three things in common:
1. The program focus is conservation-related education and training: preserving and protecting
species, landscape, and/or other natural resources.
2. These programs depend on strong collaborations between incarcerated people, corrections
staff, students, SPP staff, scientists, and community experts who share their knowledge,
resources, and enthusiasm.
3. Incarcerated program partners are both students and technicians; they receive formal
education, training, and hands-on experience. Essentially, these are college-level internships,
and technicians are awarded SPP certificates as they complete certification requirements.
Conservation programs’ success is dependent on each partner contributing their expertise and time.
Programs are designed to maximize benefits to each collaborator.

Conservation Nursery Programs
The SPP Conservation Nursery education and training program continues to primarily grow plants to
support Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly habitat restoration on Joint Base Lewis McChord and other south,
Salish lowland prairie sites. Additional plant species were grown for Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM),
WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Center for
Natural Lands Management (CNLM). The nursery also expanded contract growing for United States
Forest Service (USFS), Olympic National Forest for vegetation restoration on de-commissioned roads andtrails.
Our most substantial outreach in 2021 was SPP’s collaboration to cultivate plants for shrub-steppe
habitat restoration. This program will expand the conservation nursery to prisons in eastern
Washington. The Washington State Legislature provided a two-year funding proviso to support a
stakeholder planning process. The broader goals of the proviso include supporting essential recovery
efforts for the state’s at-risk shrub-steppe species, helping prevent the devastating effects of severe
wildfires, and creating local restoration jobs for communities living in and around Washington’ssagebrush-steppe ecosystem. As a small part of this effort, SPP is partnering with WDFW to provide
credit-bearing education and training for incarcerated students to cultivate shrub-steppe species
adapted to regional ecological conditions. The program will begin with training and plant production at
SCCC in 2022 and infrastructure planning and development at WSP. In subsequent years, partners
intend to shift program focus entirely to WSP to grow plants and seeds through at least 2024.
Plant-Plug Production
In 2021, the SPP Conservation Nursery program concentrated on growing plant plugs at WCCW. Plugproduction is necessary for species that do not establish well from seed when planted in Taylor’s
checkerspot butterfly (TCB) recovery or other restoration sites. In 2021, the nursery at WCCW delivered
44,910 plant plugs of 51 species for butterfly recovery and regional habitat restoration. Additionally, the
WCCW nursery grew several species of native plants for the USFS for restoration of recreational areas.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

29

The conservation nursery infrastructure at SCCC was turned over to WA Corrections staff for foodproduction during pandemic restrictions.

Two conservation
nursery techniciansshow off all their
hard work at
WCCW. Photo by
Savannah Richard.

Table 13. Conservation Nursery Regional Plug Summary; plants delivered Fall 2021.
2021 TCB
Species

2021 TCB Plants

2021 USFS Species

2021 USFS Plants

Total Delivered

28

44,91012

9,160

Total Requested

28

55,12012

7160

Prairie Seed Gardens
SPP nurseries at WCC and WCCW
were in transition in 2021. Earlyblue violet (Viola adunca) seed
beds were removed to develop
row crop fields and prepare soil
through cultivation and covercrops. Hardy annuals Collinsia
grandiflora, Collinsia parviflora,and Plectritis congesta were sownto overwinter 2021 for a 2022
seed harvest. In 2021, seedproduction was put on hold at
WCCW due to COVID staffing
restrictions.

Summer 2021 buckwheat cover crop for soil conditioning at the WCC seed
field. Photo by Michelle Klim.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report30

Emergent Pre-Vegetated Mat (EVM) Production
The COVID pandemic required putting the EVM program in stasis, one of many changes in 2020-2022.
Instead, SPP pivoted to working with SCCC to develop protocols and cultivation techniques to produce
microgreens for facility food production. In 2023, SPP hopes to provide supplementary nutrition forincarcerated individuals at SCCC through microgreen production in the former EVM program area.
Training and Education
Due to COVID restrictions, SPP’s Conservation Nursery Program Coordinators altered the regulareducational trainings to provide remote education. The SPP team also developed materials foreducation portfolios. Education portfolios are being developed in partnership with Evergreen and canprovide program technicians with academic credit during incarceration. For more information on
education portfolios, please refer to the Education Section.
Salish Prairie Restoration Course Description
The Conservation Nursery Program provides interdisciplinary academic and vocational education
centered on conservation ecology in the South Salish, lowland prairie ecosystem. Concepts in plant
propagation, nursery management, conservation biology, restoration ecology, and federal and state
environmental policies are examined. Students explore topics and concepts through readings,
participation in seminars, hands-on workshops, presentations, and writing assignments. There are twolevels of certificates that students can earn. The first level is the Prairie Nursery Technician certificate
which recognizes 30 hours of academic study and 270 hours of vocational study. The second level is the
Prairie Nursery Specialist which is awarded to students completing 60 hours of academic study and 740
hours of vocational study.
Sagebrush Steppe Restoration Course Description
The Sagebrush-Steppe Program provides interdisciplinary academic and vocational education focusedon sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. Topics covered include plant propagation, nursery management,
conservation biology, restoration land management, and federal and state environmental policies.
These topics are explored through readings, seminars, workshops, presentations, and writing
assignments.

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly (TCB) Program
The Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori) is a federally endangered species thatonce flourished from southern British Columbia to central Oregon. The SPP program at MCCCW adds tothe scope and resilience of species recovery efforts, and provides incarcerated people with education,
training, and certification. Program partners include incarcerated technicians, corrections staff, WDFW,USFWS, JBLM/DoD, and butterfly husbandry consultants.
Since 2011, program participants have reared more than 40,000 caterpillars and adult butterflies forrelease onto south Salish lowland prairies. More than 40 incarcerated technicians have received
education and training, six graduate students have coordinated the program, and seven WA Corrections
staff have served as liaisons. Rearing outcomes for this reporting period are summarized in Tables 14
and 15 below.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report31

Table 14. TCB 2020 – 21 season; all butterfly larvae released March 2021; none retained for breeding.
Raven Greenhouse

Turtle Greenhouse# of larvae atwake up

Total Released# of larvae at wakeup

Total Released

2,279

2,277

1,522

1,522

Total Larvae Released Both Greenhouses

3,799

Table 15. Wild TCB transferred to MCCCW May 2021 and resulting larvae into diapause.
Greenhouse# Wild TCB

Turtle
Raven
Total

31
20
51

# Productive Wild
TCB
29
19
48

# Resulting
Larvae
3,946
2,786
6,732

Larvae into
Diapause
3,937
2,752
6,689

A MCCCW Technician counts larvae. Photo by Kelli Bush.

Program overview in this reporting period:
 Early February 2021, MCCCW sent nearly 3,800 total caterpillars to be released, retaining none.
 Due to on-going COVID impacts, SPP couldn’t offer as many certificates or educational sessions
as usual as technicians were quarantined for a portion of the season.
 When we couldn’t support education using our typical model, SPP staff adapted to provide
participants educational materials that could be completed individually, within small peer

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

32





groups, and occasionally provided workshops when it was safe and in alignment with COVID
procedures.
In addition to their education and training to raise butterflies, technicians received several daysof education on all aspects of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) plant care. They propagate andcultivate plantain as butterfly larval food plants.
MCCCW staff provided exceptional support to sustain this education and training program.

Table 16. TCB program education and certification, Jan 2021 – December 2021
In-Person and Remote Education Sessions (30-90 minutes)
MCCCW

Sessions

Propagating and transplanting plantainPreparing soil and starting plantain host plant seeds
Beekeeping education packets - Remote education
Egg and Larval Cup Workshop
Butterfly Life Stage Workshop: Egg to Hatch
Butterfly Life Stage Workshop: 3rd to 5th Instar

1
2
3
1
1
1

Butterfly Life Stage Workshop: Diapause
Butterfly Life Stage Workshop: Wake-up
Managing Environmental Conditions
Seminars on various science education articles
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Learning Guide

1
1
2
5
1

Certificates Awarded
Butterfly Rearing and Research Specialist, 1,500 hours

1

Composting
Many Washington prisons have some form of large or small-scale composting program. SPP and
partners are eager to bring educational materials and certifications to composting participants as abenefit and complement to hands-on sustainability education experience.
One of the first and largest composting programs is housed at Monroe Correctional Complex. This
program was founded in 2010, primarily by two incarcerated technicians with key staff support. In 2017,
the program worked with incarcerated technicians and instructors, Seattle’s Tilth Alliance, University ofWashington faculty and composting experts, and SPP-Evergreen to create a program certification
eligible for academic credit. For several years, University Beyond Bars provided vital support for peer-led
course instruction by hosting a Teaching Assistant. In August 2019, the collaborative education program
was suspended. Despite several attempts, the education component of the composting program was
not restarted prior to the pandemic and has been on hold throughout the remainder of this reporting
period. Facility staff and incarcerated people are still operating the program and SPP hopes toreintroduce the educational partnership in the future.
Several of the incarcerated people who helped build the program at Monroe, transferred to Washington
Corrections Center. There they have been working with corrections staff to expand composting withworms, bokashi, and black soldier flies. Their goal is to eventually compost 100% of facility food waste.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report33

A technician shows off the new compost area at WCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Corrections staff and incarcerated technicians and educators at WCC have also invested significant timeworking with SPP and partners to develop a new Foundations in Composting curriculum. This
collaboration has been fruitful, and the course development team will complete their work in June
2022.To transform waste into valuable resources, incarcerated technicians at WCC and MCC work withthree systems, including:
1. Worms: Worms (also known as red wigglers and the “vermi” in vermicomposting) consume
discarded grains, vegetables, and fruits. Their droppings are called castings, and worm castings
are highly prized as fertilizer and soil amendment.
2. Bokashi: Specialist bacteria can ferment/pre-process citrus, dairy, and meats that the worms
cannot.
3. Black soldier flies: Larvae of a stingless wasp (looks like a fly) that can consume all kinds of foodwaste; the adult form of the black soldier fly produces more larvae that are prized as sustainable
and high-quality animal feed.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report34Black Soldier Fly Larva work hard to eat food that can be difficult to compost in traditional methods.
Photo by SPP Staff.

Western Pond Turtles
During most of 2021, this program remained suspended. However, SPP-Evergreen, WA Corrections, andpartners put significant effort into planning program restart and redesign as described below.
The western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is a state-listed endangered species and a federal
species of concern. Led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) partners have beenworking toward species recovery since the late 1990s. At the start of recovery efforts, only about 150
turtles remained in the wild in Washington State.
In 2013, SPP joined the recovery effort specifically to assist with the rehabilitation of turtles afflictedwith a “shell disease.” Partners for these programs include WDFW, PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,
Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ), and Oregon Zoo (OR Zoo). Affected turtles require a period of acute careprovided by veterinarians. After receiving veterinary medical care, some turtles are moved to a prison toreceive on-going care and monitoring provided by trained incarcerated technicians. As turtles complete
their healing, they can be released back into the wild where they are monitored by WDFW.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report35

A Western Pond Turtle with the shell disease is photographed to mark progress. Photo by Marissa Scoville.

This program previously operated at both Cedar Creek and Larch Corrections Centers. In spring 2021,
SPP recommended, and all partners agreed that it would be best to consolidate turtle rehabilitation
programs to care for all turtles at Cedar Creek. WA Corrections leaders at Cedar Creek made use of thetime the program was suspended to move it to a more accessible location within the prison’s secure
perimeter. Throughout 2021, Cedar Creek and SPP-Evergreen staff invested considerable time planning
the remodel and relocation of the program building, restocking program supplies, rewriting program
procedures, planning with partners, and developing new educational content. The program area willaccommodate treatment for up to 24 turtles sourced from both the Salish lowland and Columbia River
Gorge populations. A new batch of treatment turtles are due to arrive at Cedar Creek in late winter2022.
Table 17. Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation at CCCC, August 2013 – December 2021
Year
2013

Turtles Received

Turtles Released

8

2

i

2014

28

28

2015

ii

8

6

2016

iii

9

5

2017

iv

4

10

2018

9

9

2019

10

10

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

36

2020

11v

11v

2021

Suspended

Suspended

Total

87

81vi

i Differs from reported 2016 totals due to the addition of previously missing dataii 7 of 8 turtles were being re-treatediii One of these was humanely euthanized due to a neurological abnormalityiv 3 of 4 turtles were being re-treatedv due to COVID, turtles were transferred back to PAWS rehabilitation center before being released
vi in 2017 4 turtles were sent back to PAWs for exams and 1 was euthanized see iii above

Table 18. Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation at LCC, December 2015- December 2021
Year

Turtles Received

Turtles Released

2015

5

0

2016

11

9

2017

5

12

2018

11

11

2019

10

10

2020

9i

9i

2021

Program ended @ LCC

Total

51

51

Sheep Conservation Program
Historically, bighorn sheep were widespread in western North America. By the turn of the 20th century,
populations had dwindled to near extinction, and recovery efforts were needed to return them from thebrink. Today, the biggest threat to bighorn sheep is pneumonia triggered by a bacteria called
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, or M. ovi for short. The bacteria are commonly carried by domestic sheep
and goats. Raising M. ovi-free domestic sheep could protect wild bighorn sheep from the devastating
pathogen.
In 2015, WDFW introduced SPP leadership to the idea of a pilot program to breed M. ovi-free domestic
sheep. Spring 2018 was the program’s inaugural season. Program partners included WDFW, local sheep
husbandry experts, and SPP partners at WA Corrections and Evergreen. All animals in the flock were
tested for pathogen by Washington State University researchers prior to arrival and multiple times
throughout each season.
This program was a pilot to test a process for providing a source of domestic sheep and goats free of theM. ovi pathogen. Despite great success with the husbandry aspects of raising and caring for the sheep at
the prison, this program proved unreliable for producing the intended results related to pathogentransmission. There is simply more for scientists to learn about the M. ovi before determining aneffective way to reduce the spread of this pathogen. We are grateful to all the partners who invested inthis program and for their innovative approach to addressing this complex issue while providing
education and training for incarcerated participants.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report37

6. Restorative Nature Programs
SPP aims to bring nature inside prisons for its
restorative benefits. Previously, SPP considered
restorative nature programs to be those that
focused on relieving the stress of prison
environments for its inhabitants. We have sincebroadened our definition to include the added
benefits of providing wildlife habitat. Scientific
literature shows that when nature is available
within institutional and urban environments,
inhabitants experience many positive, therapeutic
benefits. Less formally, the therapeutic values of
SPP’s programs have been recognized widely andconsistently by both incarcerated and staff
partners.
The Nature Imagery in Prisons Project team, led by
SPP co-founder Nalini Nadkarni, found that even“vicarious” nature exposure (in the form of nature
A bee visits a flower in the pollinator garden at AHCC.
videos) has beneficial results for incarcerated
Photo by WA Corrections.
individuals and staff in the area. Overall, SPPEvergreen’s influence on nature imagery programs has been reduced, and many of these specificinitiatives have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While all SPP programs are intended to offer positive contact with nature, the initiatives detailed below
include enjoying nature and/or providing wildlife habitat as their primary functions. The table below
aims to represent the status of various initiatives reported to us by WA Corrections.
Table 19. Restorative nature and wildlife habitat efforts, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 (seeAppendix 3 for abbreviations)PrisonPrograms

AHCC

Pollinator plantings

AHCC
CBCC

Nature imagery
Flower gardens

CCCC

Pollinator-friendly flowers

CRCC

Heritage and flower
gardens

CRCC

Land restoration

Status & Highlights
Flowers were grown throughout the main courtyard for human &wildlife well-being; pollinator stations with bee-friendly plantings
Individuals in maximum security have access to nature videos
Continued upkeep of 500 perennials planted last reporting period
Planted ~12,000 annual flowers (grown from seed in facility
greenhouses) around facility grounds
Garden designed by incarcerated individuals using native plants,
which honor cultural and natural heritage of area and minimize
water needs; continues to thrive and add visual beauty
Restoration of native vegetation continues to thrive outside thefence; propagated and grew 11 native species

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

38

CRCC

Pollinator garden

LCC

Bird feeders

LCC

House plants

MCCCW

House plants

MCCCW
MCC-SOU
MCC –
WSR
MCC –
WSR
OCC

Bird boxes
Nature Imagery

SCCC

Pollinator plantings

SCCC

Lifer garden

SCCC

Bird houses

WCC

House plants

WCC

Flower gardens

WSP-South
Complex +MSU

Rental garden boxes

Bird habitat
Flower gardens
Water features

4-acre garden for bees and other pollinators in minimum security
portion of the prison
Feeders throughout the facility; 2 new birdhouses were built andmounted on facility grounds
Nearly 300 houseplants in incarcerated living units, no new houseplants were distributed during the reporting period.
All living units have houseplants and numerous staff have plants intheir offices; plants continue to thrive
20 bird boxes, 2 bird feeders
Information not available during this reporting period.
Multiple bird houses and hummingbird feeders continue to thrivearound Education Building and Gate 7
Flowers gardens were grown, but bunnies ravaged the flowers andshrubs1 living unit has a fishpond; the other has a fountain and basin
Pollinator plants & flowers were maintained and a new pollinator
garden was created around the beehive area.
Large garden space dedicated to incarcerated men not eligible forparoleAdded 6 new birdhouses to the existing 42 throughout facility
Plants in all shared and staff areas; 456 house plants were donated in
2021 to Thurston Food Bank
Flower plantings throughout the campus; began using thermal
heating in raised garden bed greenhouses to improve efficiency
Raised bed gardens were on hold due to COVID.

Left: A bunny enjoys
the flower gardens at
MCC. Right: A
birdhouse at MCC.
Photos by WA
Corrections.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report397. Community Contribution Programs
Community contribution programs directly provide services and/or goods to nearby communities. They
involve programs like training pets for adoption or service, donating crafts and products (firewood,
quilts) derived from reclaimed materials, and providing services such as habitat restoration and thinning
trees.
Typically, these programs are partnerships between prisons and community organizations that helporganizations increase capacity and provide incarcerated individuals with opportunities to contribute to
the world outside the fence. Most of these programs predate the formal SPP partnership and areoperated without support from SPP-Evergreen. SPP-Evergreen’s role is limited to acknowledging andsupporting these partnerships and providing an overview of activities taking place statewide.
Overall, these programs were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many were suspended
until further notice.

Dog and Cat Programs
Prior to the pandemic, dog and cat programs were flourishing in prisons across Washington. Nearly all ofWashington’s prisons have one or more partnerships with community nonprofits for pet programs.
Incarcerated individuals receive education and support from those partner organizations to provide
excellent animal care and obedience training, grooming and boarding, and—in a few cases—service ortherapy training. We have heard from incarcerated participants and staff that pet programs benefit all
directly involved including prison and outside communities. Participants of these programs often
describe working with dogs or cats as transformational.
Table 20. Dog and cat programs, January 2021 – December 2021 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
PrisonProgram

Program Partners

Highlights

AHCC

Pawsitive dog
training

Diamonds in the Ruff,
SpokAnimal, Spokane
Humane Society

This program was suspended during COVID, but AHCC
hopes to restart this program and rebuild partnerships.

CBCC

Dog training andadoption

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)

CBCC

Cat program

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)

CCCC

Training dogs
for veterans

Brigadoon Service
Dogs

CRCC

CRCC
LCC

Ridge Dogs
Service dogs forveterans
Dog Adoption
Program

Benton Franklin
Humane, AdamCounty Pet Rescue
Brigadoon Service
Dogs
Humane Society forSouthwest WA (HSSW)CBCC had dogs until June 2021 and classes until
September 1, 2021. Due to COVID, the program wassuspended.
In December 2021, the cat program was cancelled dueto the handlers being moved to cells with sliding doors.
At the beginning of 2021, there were 5 primary trainers
and 5 dogs. Due to COVID, the program dropped to 2
primary handlers and 2 dogs.
27 dogs graduated from the program in past year.
COVID paused the program for a portion of the year.
CRCC had 3 dogs in the program. This program was
impacted by COVID.
Program suspended due to COVID.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

40

LCC

Cat Adoption
Program

MCC –TRU

Dog training andadoption

MCCCW

Pawsitive Prison
Project

OCC

SCCC

WCCW

Dog training andadoptionDog training andservice dogs forveterans
Prison Pet
PartnershipWest Columbia Gorge
Humane Society,
HSSW
Summit Assistance
Dogs

Program suspended due to COVID.

Program suspended due to COVID.

Olympia Peninsula
Humane Society

22 cats were adopted during the reporting period.
COVID restricted this program. Over 900 cats adopted
since 2006.
Program suspended due to COVID; hope to start again
in 2022.

Brigadoon Service
Dogs

17 dogs, 5 of which went on to be service dogs, wereadopted.

Self-supporting

Program suspended due to COVID.

Kitsap Humane Society

Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs
Consistent with the earliest days of SPP programs, WA prisons strive to “throw nothing away,” totransform potential refuse into something of value. In some cases, these programs’ creations directly
meet an organization’s need: donating quilts to a housing shelter, refurbished computers for schools,
and growing produce for food banks. In other cases, programs donate handmade or restored creations
for organizations’ fundraising events. These programs are best illustrated by statewide numbers(below). These numbers are likely under-represented due to facility staffing constraints during thisreporting period.
Table 21. Community contribution programs statewide, January 2021 – December 2021 (see Appendix 3
for abbreviations).
Reported Statewide Totals (approximations)

Highest Impact Facility

51,845+ lbs. to food banks & prison kitchens

WCC: 32,502 lbs.

3,711 items donated

WSP’s Sustainable Practices Lab(SPL): 2,300 items

1,165 repaired and donated

MCC-WSR: 836

Refurbished computers

11,811 computers, parts, and laptops

AHCC: All

Firewood

300 cords prepared for donation

AHCC: All

Produce grown
Crafts & furnishings fromreclaimed materials
Refurbished bicycles andwheelchairs

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report41

Left: Bicycles repaired at MCC-WSRU and ready to be delivered to local charities; Right: Wheelchair repair
workshop at MCC-WSRU. Photos by WA Corrections.

Table 22. Community contribution programs to reclaim, repurpose, restore, or donate, January 2021 –December 2021 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
PrisonPrograms

Program Partners
Blessings Under the Bridge,
AHCC Medical End of Life
Patients, Catholic Charities ofEastern Washington
Office of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, WA
Department of Enterprise
Services
Spokane Neighborhood Action
Partners (SNAP)AHCC

SPL: Quilting

AHCC

Computers 4
Kids

AHCC

Firewood
donation

AHCC

Gardens, mainand minimum

Master Gardeners, Ronald
McDonald House, Shriners
Children’s Hospital

CBCC

Vegetable
gardens

Clallam Bay Food Bank

CBCC

Ozette potato
program

Local tribes

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

Highlights

Program suspended due to COVID.

Refurbished 1,624 Desktops, 431 monitors, 785
laptops, and portions of 8,971 that went back tosurplus due to damage or age were recycled for
usable parts.
In the past year, AHCC prepared 300 cords offirewood for donation.
Limited ability to grow produce due to COVID
restrictions and poor air quality from forest
fires; grew a small amount of produce that wasincorporated into the menu and grew pumpkins
that were donated to charities.
Donated 1,626 lbs. produce to the Clallam Bay
food bank; 137 lbs. were donated to the CBCC
kitchen.
CBCC Greenhouse Crew donated 211 lbs. and40 lbs. of potatoes were donated through the
Ozette Potato Program to the Makah Tribe.

42

CCCC

Gardens

CRCC –MSU
CRCC –
Main

Gardens,
Minimum

CRCC

LCC

MCC –
WSR
MCC –
WSR
MCC –
WSR

MCC –
WSR

MCC –
WSR

MCCCW

MCCCW

OCC

Centralia College, Littlerock
School District

6,000 lbs. of produce grown.
Grew 1,500 lbs. of produce, ~72% of produce
grown was donated to local food banks.
Grew and donated 1,500 lbs. of produce to local
food banks.

Gardens, Main

Harvest Now

Teddy bears
fromreclaimedmaterials

Hospitals, API events held at
CRCC, ARC of Tri-Cities, Franklin
County Sheriff’s Office

Program suspended due to COVID.

Friends of the Carpenter,
Skamania Fly Fisher’s Assoc.

Created and donated 15 wood projects tostate’s CFD, donated 4 projects to the
Duwamish tribe and several others for state
worker’s retirement and to programs forincarcerated individuals.

Wood craft
donations

Gardens
City of Monroe
public flowers

Program suspended due to COVID.
City of Monroe donates seeds
and soil

Grew over 3,400 flowers for city flower beds.

Vegetable
gardens

CI Food Services donated seeds

Produce was grown and donated to local foodbanks. Due to staff turnover, weights were
unavailable.

SPL Bicycles
from Heaven

Bikes donated by Snohomish
County Sheriff, Monroe PD,
Marysville PD, Everett PD;
donated to Snohomish County
Boys & Girls Club and the City of
Sultan for National Night Out

Restored and donated 189 bikes to local clubs
and nonprofits.

Wheels for the World, Joni &Friends

617 wheelchairs restored and shipped to Haiti,
Peru, and within the USA.

Kitsap Conservation District,
Central Kitsap Foodbank

Program suspended due to COVID.

SPL
Wheelchair
program
GRACE(Gardening for
Restoration &Conservation
Education)
Project
Vegetable
gardens

North Mason Food Bank

Wood shop

Quileute HS scholarships,
Cherish our Children, Forks Lions
Club, CASA, Quillayute Valley
School District, Relay for Life,
Forks Chamber of Commerce,
Timber Museum, Calm Waters

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

720 ft2 of garden space, grew 632 lbs. of
produce: 266lbs. donated to food bank, 366lbs.,
used by for prison kitchen.
Donations have remained active with items
going to Cherish Our Children, Quillayute Valley
Scholarship Auction, Combined fund drive at
both OCC and DOC HQ, Calm Waters,
Soroptimists, City of Forks, Forks Chambers ofCommerce, Forks Visitors Center, Forks Timber

43

and Forks Soroptimists; woodfrom Westport Shipyard and
OCC Community Crews (DNR)
Peninsula College, Sunshine andRainbows Child Development
Center, Quileute Tribe

OCC

Vegetable
gardens

SCCC

Gardens andgreenhouses

Coastal Harvest Food Bank,
Harvest Now

Bicycle Repair
Wheelchair
RepairLions Club

SCCC
SCCC

Wheels for the World

Museum and Forks Lions Club. A total of 260
items were donated.

Grew and donated ~3,000 lbs. of produce toForks Food Bank.
20,582 lbs. grown; 13,757 lbs. donated to
Coastal Harvest; 3,190 lbs. used in the SCCC
Kitchen.
59 bikes repaired and donated in the past year.
111 wheelchairs repaired; 220 wheelchairs and50 walkers shipped to Nigeria.
47 miscellaneous sized hats, 5 scarves, 1
washcloth, 1 pair of mittens, 40 bracelets, and40 necklaces were donated.
Fundraiser of Chinese food and soda raised$7,545; 40% of which went to the local Beyond
Survival organization. The remaining 60% went
to the Sustainability account to support
sustainability programs for incarcerated
individuals.
456 houseplants were donated to the Thurston
County Food Bank.

SCCC

SBU Knitting
Class

Family Promise

SCCC

COVID-19
Community
Fundraiser

Beyond Survival for victims ofsexual assault

WCC

Plant starts

Thurston County Food Bank

WCC

Vegetable
gardens

Hoodsport Food Bank, Matlock
Community Church, Thurston
County Food Bank, Saint Pantry
Food Bank

Despite a difficult growing season, 10
incarcerated individuals grew 32,502 lbs. of
produce! 67% was donated to local food banks.

WCC

Shoe andclothing
repurposing

CI

Program suspended due to COVID.

WCCWGardens andgreenhouses

Tacoma CC, WSU Extension,
Pierce County

26 students were enrolled in Horticulture and
5,000 lbs. of produce were harvested for
WCCW’s kitchen.

Community members donate
supplies; various charities
receive items

Created and donated 50 quilts.

Donated to Blue Mountain
Action Council and New
Beginnings

Donated 3,800 lbs. of produce and 1,000 starter
plants to local schools.

Receive materials donations
from partners; donated to 550
charities since start of SPL in
2012

Donated 2,300 items to non-profits andcharities.

WCCW

WSP

WSP –
SPL

Sisters ofCharity: quilts,
fabric crafts,
wildlife rescue
Gardens andgreenhouses:
Institutional
Sustainability
GardenOverview ofnumerous SPL
programs

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

44

WSP –SPL

SPL: Wood
Shop & Wood
Carving
SPL: Furniture
RepairWSP –SPL

SPL: Art
Program

WSP –SPL

SPL: Quilting

Program suspended due to COVID.

WSP –
SPL

SPL: Green
Zone

3,800 lbs. of produce donated to local foodbanks. Farm to school still operated this yearwith the local school districts, and SPL supplied
1,000 starter plants.

WSP –
SPL

SPL: Water
treatment
systems

WSP –SPL

1,300 items were created and donated to
nonprofits and charities.
Institutional furniture was repaired and reused.

Various non-profits partners

Project 41, Ohio State
University, Duke University,
Suez, Worldwide assist, Assist
International

Several paintings were donated to various
charities. Paintings were made from palletwood and prison bedsheets for canvas.

Program suspended due to COVID.

Left: Beautiful yellow squash harvested at AHCC; Right: Pumpkins grown and harvested at AHCC being loaded
up for delivery to Ronald McDonald House and Shriners Children’s Hospital. Photos by WA Corrections.

Community Work Crews
Many incarcerated residents of minimum-security prisons (LCC, OCC, MCCCW, and CCCC) and units(Minimum Security Unit = “MSU”) work on offsite crews providing services on public lands andcommunity organization sites. The pandemic greatly limited the work of these crews, and many of themshifted to working within the prison grounds instead.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report45

In all, it is estimated that 443 incarcerated individuals were employed in these crews during thisreporting period. With so many programs statewide, SPP still has much to learn about if and how these
programs fit the SPP model. Reported details are shown in the table below.
Table 23. Community work crew special projects, January 2021– December 2021 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations).
PrisonPrograms

Program Partners

AHCC

Forestry

DNR

CCCC

Forestry

DNR

CCCC

Community
work

Multiple agencies

LCC

Forestry

DNR, USFS,
Ecology

LCC

Community
work

Multiple agencies

MCCCW

Conservation
crews

MCCCW

GRACE
Project

OCC

Community
Crew

OCC

Forestry

WSP –
MSU

Communitycrew

Multiple
nonprofits andagencies
KitsapConservation
District, Central
Kitsap Foodbank
DNR, otheragencies
DNR, otheragencies

Highlights
Crews work various timberlands including State Parks, regionalparks, and private lands. Crews participate in providing
firewood to lower income citizens and careful planning andmanagement of forest lands to aid in conservation of natural
resources and prevent fires.
Off-site crews trained in and practice re-forestation, woodcutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting and fire
prevention. Crews were dispatched to numerous fire projects
and local wildfires, receiving recognition and appreciation from
community members for their efforts.
Offsite crew time was limited due to COVID, however CCCC
crews worked 8,737 hours for different agencies. They helped
clean small cities and towns, maintain parks, pick up litter,
maintain school grounds, sport complexes, college campuses,
and Thurston County Fire Department.
Crews planted ~416,000 trees across 1,200 acres. Crews werealso dispatched to 19 wildfires. Other services include forest
fuel reduction, litter clean-up, and trail and campgroundmaintenance.
This program was mostly suspended due to COVID. Thoughcrews did manage to work 12,587 hours.

Program suspended due to COVID.

Program suspended due to COVID.

Program suspended due to COVID.
Off-site crews trained in and practice reforestation, woodcutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting and fire
prevention.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, work crews have been working
on facility grounds for maintenance and landscaping.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report46

8. Sustainable Operations
Sustainable Operations programs statewide are managed by a dedicated WA Corrections’ Sustainable
Operations Manager (also author of this section); this position was created by WA Corrections tomonitor and reduce the environmental, economic, and human costs of prisons. Sustainable operations
initiatives include greenhouse gas emissions, energy, waste, and potable water use reductions.
Overall, COVID-19 significantly disrupted sustainable operations programs. Statewide recycling efforts
have continued to be slowed or halted. Progress on other fronts, including greenhouse gas emissions,energy, and potable water use reductions remained consistent and benefited from concentrated
attention on program development. The following section provides updates on recent sustainable
operations initiatives.

Partnerships
Opportunities to Collaborate on Sustainable Operations and Energy Reductions
WA Corrections continues to support work with the State Efficiency and Environmental Performance(SEEP) Office. DOC participates in several of SEEP’s work groups, as well as the Guidance Council andGoverning Council. The results over the past year include collaborative processes, policy work, andfunding requests with other state agencies to move forward the work of greenhouse gas emissions andtoxics reductions. It has been a rewarding and productive partnership.
Sustainable Corrections Infrastructure Partnership
WA Corrections committed to the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Sustainable Corrections
Infrastructure Partnership (SCIP) Accelerator in 2020 and continued participation in 2021. SCIP is avoluntary initiative to partner with state governments interested in accelerating energy and water
efficiency, renewable energy, storage technologies, and energy management in their public correctional
facilities while maintaining the sector’s priorities of security and resilience.
Over the next two years, WA Corrections will strive for portfolio-wide energy savings of 20%. WA
Corrections also aims to reduce operating and maintenance costs by identifying and demonstrating
solutions that leverage energy and water efficiency and renewable energy and storage technologies. WA
Corrections is working on three project areas and receiving technical assistance from the Department ofEnergy. Initial project areas focus on utilizing renewable energy and storage technologies to reduce theoperational and maintenance cost of our facility Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems while
increasing the facilities’ resiliency.

Program Foundations and Planning
New Asset Management Program and Sustainability Database and Reporting System
During the past year, Asset Planner, a sustainable operations management system, has been deployedat all major DOC facilities. All facilities are using asset planning, project planning, energy andsustainability data, preventative maintenance, and service requests. Having access to these tools
integrated into a single program allows facilities to maximize efforts in sustainability. Facilities can use
this information to see how routine maintenance and preventative maintenance inherently improve
infrastructure sustainability.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report47Building audits were conducted to create a facility condition index (FCI), which serves as an indicator of
condition for individual buildings. FCI is a percentage of the costs of deferred maintenance projects
divided by the building's current replacement value. An FCI of 10% was established as an asset
sustainability target for WA Corrections. This allows for building renewal and preservation planning sothat buildings can be operated more efficiently.
Building managers can use the energy and sustainability data to generate energy use intensities (EUIs)
and relate it to FCI. This helps managers develop scoping action plans for building energy tune-up
projects. This should result in higher performing buildings with increased energy efficiency, lower
operating costs, and improved indoor environmental quality. This level of building management will also
help us in our efforts to meet goals in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, and water use reductions.

Vehicle Fuel Use Reductions
New Fleet Manager Position
The department created a new Fleet Manager position. This position is critical to achieving the agency’s
goals of reducing vehicle fleet fuel usage and increasing the installation of electric vehicle charging
stations at all owned and leased facilities. Over the past year the new fleet manager has been active inplanning and prioritizing fleet reductions and transitions to electric vehicles as funding and businessneeds allow.

EnergyDuring this reporting period, WA Corrections focused heavily on energy project planning anddevelopment. Several energy audits were completed, and energy conservation projects are underway.
Summaries of the main projects follow.
LCC Biomass Boiler Project: Phase one of a project to convert Larch Corrections Center from a diesel
fueled central plant to biomass is nearly completed. LCC is currently heated with an outdated andfailing fuel oil hot water heating system. Two out of three boilers in the central plant failed and theunderground hot water distribution system was experiencing significant leakage. The first phase of thismajor energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction project replaced the leaking hot water loop andinstalled the backup boiler and connection point for the biomass boiler. The biomass boiler is a modern,efficient wood energy system, to be installed in phase 2 of the project beginning the summer of 2022.
LCC currently uses about 74,000 gallons of fuel oil per year. The installation of the commercial
production biomass boiler and fuel handling system will result in annual usage of significantly less fueloil (2,470 gallons) and 759 tons of wood fuel locally sourced from forestry by-products. This project will
also reduce the facility’s net greenhouse gas emissions from heating by 461 metric tons per year (91%).
It will be the first of its kind among state facilities in Washington, providing a leading example foragencies pursuing state greenhouse gas reduction goals. The project will also provide a valuable market
for local forestry byproducts, supporting the beneficial use of these byproducts and reducing forest firerisk. WA Corrections received $750,000 in grant funding for the project and applied for additional funds
to fulfill funding needs.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report48

Clean Buildings Legislation: The objective of the new Clean Buildings Legislation is to lower costs andpollution from fossil fuel consumption in the state’s existing buildings, especially large commercial
buildings. This legislation requires building owners to take action now to meet energy use standards andtargets by 2026. Building owners must demonstrate proof of progress towards compliance with the newstandards or risk a financial penalty. To this end, WA Corrections conducted an initial survey prioritizing
the facility investment needs to meet the legislative requirements. The Department completed an audit
to develop a metering installation and funding plan for all campuses. The Department is working with
the State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) office on the development of an Energy
Management Plan guidance document and template to facilitate an efficient, effective response to thegoals supported by this legislation.
Continued energy reduction work with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Serving in atechnical advisor role for WA Corrections, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is assisting
WA Corrections to set up an advanced building control system program. This program will provide
guidance to establish standardized and modern control systems for efficient system sustainment andadvanced control strategy deployment. Furthermore, the standardized control system platform will
enable opportunities for WA Corrections to leverage PNNL’s expertise in developing advanced data
driven solutions tailored for WA Corrections facilities. PNNL is also assisting in developing a retuning
training program to ensure WA Corrections has the in-house expertise needed to optimize building
control system capabilities under development. To kick off the returning training program, PNNL is
leading a series of technical workshops with facilities maintenance staff which will result in significant
energy savings and improved engagement of staff.
PNNL, in collaboration with WA Corrections, also developed a Strategic Energy Management Plan. The
Energy Management Plan is a key component of meeting the requirement of the Clean Building Act. WA
Corrections will update and use Energy and Management Plan to guide and advance efficiency, cost
reduction, and climate mitigation goals for years to come.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report49

9. Sustainability Job Programs
The list included in the table below shows WA Corrections sustainability job program placements during
this reporting period (data provided by WA Corrections staff’s OMNI system). These job programs
represent work involving sustainability, science, and contact with non-human nature documented andreported by WA Corrections staff. Many of these programs included little-to-no input from SPPEvergreen partners. This table also leaves out some sustainability jobs that have been coded in a nonsustainability category (e.g., technicians working on composting and aquaponics at SCCC and electricians
who install energy efficient fixtures).

A Cedar Creek aquaponics technician watches the fish. Photo by SPP Staff.

Approximately 2,029 incarcerated individuals held sustainability-related jobs during this reporting
period, which is approximately 16% of the 13,085 people incarcerated in WA prisons in December 2021.
Additional individuals “volunteer” in sustainability programs, and their work is not captured here;
known reasons for declining the job status relate to COVID-19 restrictions, changes in sentencing
structure, having another work or program assignment, short duration of program duties, or limits onmonthly pay.
Table 24. Sustainability Job Programs in WA Prisons, January 1, 2021 – December 2021
Note: Does not include “volunteers” (see above) and students (see Education).
Sustainability Job Program# of Sites# of Individuals
Aquaponics
1
2
Bee Conservation Tech / Class Facilitator
665
Bicycle Repair
11Bike & Wheelchair Repair
25

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report50Butterfly Rearing Tech
Cat Handler
Community Work Crews (includes 13 Clerks)
Compost Worker / Food Waste Recycler
Computer Refurbishing
Cultural Crafts ProgramDog Handler (includes service trainers)
Dog Walker
Forestry I Worker
Forestry II Worker
Gardening, Organic
Horticulture I Worker
Horticulture Worker II
Prairie Plant Conservation
Re-Use Fabric-Sustainable / Quilting
Recycling Worker / Recycling & Reclamation
Root Of Success Trainer
Sheep Farming
Sustainability Worker / Clerk
Turtle Technician
Waste Treatment Operator I
Waste Treatment Operator II
Worm Farm Worker / Vermiculture
TOTAL

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

1
4
9
1
1
1
12
4
4
1
1
9
3
3
2
13
3
1
3
2
3
2
3

11
38
443
5
11
5
114
21
536
18
70
132
25
51
23
343
12
11
30
9
10
16
22
2,029

51

10. Research and Evaluation
Program evaluation and research involving people in prisons is resource intensive and requires extensive
review and approval given their federal status as a “vulnerable population.” This section provides
updates on evaluation occurring in SPP programs, research with external partners, as well as SPP
involvement in graduate student theses.

SPP-Evergreen Program Evaluation
With WA Corrections Research and Data Analytics (RDA) staff support, SPP-Evergreen has regularly
conducted quality assessment surveys with two types of program participants: Environmental Workshop
Series students and Ecological Conservation technicians. Survey collection in these programs is notconsidered research, as they represent assessments of program quality that are used to create
improvements. Unfortunately, almost all surveying in SPP programs is suspended due to pandemic
restrictions. The survey data collected in SPP-Evergreen programs thus far has not yet been analyzed.
On a biennial basis, SPP-Evergreen analyzes data related to demographics and recidivism for three setsof SPP program participants: Roots of Success instructors, Roots of Success graduates (students), andEcological Conservation technicians. This data was previously analyzed and reported in the SPP FY19
Annual Report. While 2021 would have been year that SPP conducts a data request, SPP decided topostpone for a year until DOC Leadership has capacity to assist us with this data request. We plan to
conduct a data request and analysis in 2022. For more information on the previous findings, see
http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/resources/spp-results/.

Research with External Partners
SPP continues to assist Dr. Nalini Nadkarni with research surrounding the effects of nature on
individuals. This year’s work focused on the effects of nature on scientists. In late 2021, a manuscript
was successfully submitted to BioScience titled Reversing the Lens on Public Engagement with Science:
Positive Benefits for Participating Scientists. An academic paper based on this research is set to be
published in 2022.
Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Since the 2020 Annual Report, Dr. Kevin Morris with the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at
Denver University (DU) and student researchers successfully published Measuring the Psychological
Impacts of Prison-Based Dog Training Programs and In-Prison Outcomes for Inmates (2020) in The Prison
Journal.
SPP continues to develop research with Dr. Kevin Morris and will also be teaming with Dr. Jennifer K.
Wesley with the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of North Florida.
Researchers plan to dive deeper into the effects of other living animal programs on incarcerated
individuals. Research will continue to focus on programs like dog training but may expand toconservation programs. The team plans to conduct research in both Washington and Florida. SPP plans
to support by connecting researchers with dog program leaders across the state.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report52

Student Theses
Master of Environmental Studies student Shohei Morita completed his thesis examining empowerment
theory in a prison context and how students’ empowerment is affected by participating inenvironmental education programs. Incarcerated individuals acted as advisors on the thesis. After
working with the advisors, Shohei conducted semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated
individuals who participated in environmental education programs during incarceration. Results
suggested that participating in environmental education empowered individuals. This empowerment
occurred primarily on an individual level rather than an organizational or community level. The evidence
ultimately suggested that prison-based environmental education can be a significant platform for
empowerment. To learn more about Shohei’s research, visit:
http://collections.evergreen.edu/files/original/806479742a37e59ac9bcf160bff4e2c3b48fac5b.pdf

Shohei Morita assists with honey extraction at WCC. Photo by Jen Bass.

Environmental Education MS student (Southern Oregon University) Annie O’Shea approached SPP inearly 2021 expressing interest in researching how MES student coordinators working with SPP may beaffected by their work with the organization. Annie was interested in interviewing former coordinators
to see how their time at SPP affected their career choices, opinions on environmental education inprisons, and perceptions of environmental education and social justice. Due to unforeseen
circumstances, Annie made the difficult decision to discontinue the project. However, Annie graciously
offered her interview questions to SPP for future researchers. We hope to see this research picked up by
another graduate student in the future.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report5311. SPP Network
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, SPP had significantly less contact with network connections during thisreporting period. We maintain high value for connectivity to improve programs and increase access to
education.

SPP in Washington State
Staff at SPP-Evergreen maintained contact with all Washington state prisons during the January –December 2021 reporting period. With the exception of OCC, every prison in WA hosts one or moreprograms coordinated by SPP-Evergreen including beekeeping, Roots of Success, and ecologicalconservation programs. Posted below is a summary of SPP-Evergreen’s new and project-specificcontacts within the state.
Table 25. SPP-Evergreen's significant contacts in Washington State, January – December 2021.
New and Project-Specific Contacts
Organization
Olympia Community Solar

Defenders of Wildlife

Seattle Tilth
Sally Brown and Chuck Henry, UW
Lily Raabe, Olympia Community
TheatreInterest in SPP
Interested in providing educational materials and training on solar
energyConnected through role with WDFW advisory council; asked about DEI
issues related to SPP and Sagebrush proposal; now interested inremoving barriers to employment and education for careers inconservation; planning for ongoing collaboration
Reviewing Composting Modules
Reviewing Composting modules and advising on outline
Activity building advising for Composting Curriculum

SPP Nationally and Internationally
SPP is recognized by other countries, states, and counties for leadership in environmental education andnature programs in prisons. New interest and involvement in SPP-model programs continues, andongoing relationships and learning exchanges are flourishing. While the “SPP Network” is less formal
than in years past, the number and significance of contacts continues to expand.
In this reporting period, we received or provided information and/or resources with at least 23
organizations and individuals. The table below provides a summary, and national interest in SPP-model
programming is also summarized in Figure 3.
Table 26. SPP-Evergreen's national and international contacts, January – December 2021 (see Appendix
3 for abbreviations).
New and ongoing contacts:
Title/profession, organization
Professor of Practice/Founder,
Arizona State University/
SciStarter.org

Topics Discussed with SPP

State

Incorporating citizen science in SPP work

AZ

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual ReportCountry (ifnot USA)54

UC Davis Center for Community
and Citizen Science
Insight Garden Program
Impact Justice

Boston College and Ecologies ofJustice Conference teamProject Manager, Unconditional
Freedom
Co-Founder/Director ofOperations, Blooming HealthFarms
PhD Student, University of Denver
Director, Institute for HumanAnimal Connection, U of Denver
Professor, Department of
Criminology & Criminal Justice
University of North Florida
Illinois DOC

Professors, Stetson University

New Jersey DOC
LoveLoud Foundation

Outreach Coordinator,
Sustainable Westchester

DStudio, Founder

Collaboration to increase access to conservation
education and citizen science
Collaboration to increase access to conservation
education and citizen science
Collaboration across state corrections education
systems
Collaboration w/Boston College, Yale University
organizations & researchers across the country
bringing science, nature & sustainability
programs into prisons; SPP co-sponsor & part ofconference planning teamInterest in developing and implementing SPPstyle programs in CA correctional facilities
Aquaponics in youth corrections
Assisted by SPP for research at Institute of
Human-Animal Connection
Studying impacts of pet & conservation programsin prisons
Studying impacts of pet programs in prisons

CA
CA
CA

MA

CA

CO

CO
CO

FL

Interested in gardening programs in facilities toIL
improve access to fresh produce
Learning about foods studies course offered by
Stetson and sharing info re:SPP gardening
FloridacurriculaInterested in Beekeeping Programs for NJ DOC
NJ
facilities
Partnering with SPP to develop and launchNV
composting programs in Nevada prisons
Consortium of 44 local governments in
Westchester County, New York to address issues
in environmental sustainability; expandingtransparency within workforce development
NY
programs for career entry into renewable energy,
but would like to gain insight to effectively provide
these resources to our County's Department ofCorrections
Implement SPP Style programs in OK
OK

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report55

Graduate Student, Lewis & Clark
College

Graduate Student Southern
Oregon University
Undergraduate student,
Middlebury College
Graduate Student, James
Madison University
FINE (Farm to Institution New
England)Landscape Coordinator
Director, Impact Life Centre

Talked with KB about an advocacy project she's
working on. Attempting to create a program forfolks nearing release from prison to work in
ORcommunity gardens with members of the broader
community as a way to help with the transition
from incarceration to life outside prison.
Helped design thesis research project
Using SPP as a resource for senior thesis on foodjustice and prison agriculture operations
Interested in SPP programs and the benefits ofnatureInformation sharing for challenges and successesof garden to kitchen on the East Coast.
Interested in sustainable practices andhorticulture in prisons, growing fresh produce inprisons
Asking about WSP’s water filter project

OR
VT
VA
VA,
MA
VA
Zimbabwe

Figure 3. Prevalence of SPP-style programs nationwide.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report5612. Dissemination
Presentations
In this reporting period, SPP staff at Evergreen (SPP-Evergreen) presented at a variety of venues tohighlight specific programs or represent SPP as a whole. A summary of our presentations is represented
in Table 27; this table excludes presentations within established programs. Overall, the number ofpresentations was significantly less than usual, due to event cancellations during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Table 27. SPP-Evergreen Presentations, January – December 2021 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Date

Presenter(s)

Title

Venue

03/19/2021

Kelli Bush, Steve
Sinclair, Carolina
Landa

SPP: Developing transformative
partnerships for people andecosystems

Conference on Social and Ecological
Infrastructure for Recidivism Reduction- Sponsored by NSF and Yale

06/10/2021

Kelli BushSPP Updates & DOC Contract

The Evergreen State College Board ofTrustees

06/15/2021

Kelli Bush, Emily
Passarelli, Shohei
Morita, Erica Benoit

SPP Information Session for
Evergreen MES Program

The Evergreen State College

06/15/2021

Kelli Bush, Shohei
MoritaSPP Beekeeping

Interview about beekeeping withauthor Tierney Monahan

08/24/2021

Kelli Bush

Overview SPP at Evergreen

Evergreen Institute for Climate Actionand Sustainability

09/16/2021

Kelli Bush, Emily
Passarelli

SPP and Education

WA State Board of Community andTechnical Colleges meeting

10/12/2021

Kelli Bush

Environmental Education in
Prisons: Programs for Human
Wellbeing & Ecosystem Health

University of Washington Nature and
Health Conference

11/29/2021

Kelli BushSPP Overview & EcologicalConservation Programs

University of Washington Restoration
Ecology class

12/01/2021

Kelli BushSPP Overview

Evergreen Academic and Career
Advising

SPP Tours
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPP-Evergreen staff and WA Corrections staff at each facility regularly
hosted visitors interested in SPP programs. Due to no-visitor policies for most of 2021, no tours occurred
during this reporting period.

Academic Publications, Projects, and Internships
Academic Papers
A journal article authored by Dr. Nalini Nadkarni et.al. on the effects of virtual nature experiences on
incarcerated men was published in BioScience. Another journal article written by Dr. Kevin Morris with ateam from University of Denver published in The Prison Journal. Additional details provided in the
Evaluation section.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report57Graduate Student Theses and Capstones
During this reporting period, SPP-Evergreen supported Master of Environmental Studies graduate
student, Shohei Morita, in academic work to satisfy his degree.
See Student Theses for further details. SPP-Evergreen also provided informal support to several
additional students, some of whom are described in the same section.

Media Coverage
During this reporting period, no media visits or interviews were allowed with corrections staff orincarcerated program participants. The table below includes all of the media pieces that SPP-Evergreen
staff tracked during the reporting period.
Table 28. SPP Media, January – December 2021
Date

Paper/Source

04/19/2021 PBS – Nova Next

Author

Title

Christina Couch

Meet the scientists building a prison-to-STEM pipeline

05/26/2021 The Courier Herald Jeff Antonelis-Lapp

More feel good stories about Mount Rainier | All
Things Mount Rainier

June 2021

Ecopsychology(journal)

Nalini Nadkarni, et al.

Providing Virtual Nature Experiences to Incarcerated
Men Reduces Stress and Increases Interest in theEnvironment

2021

Tyler M. Han, Erin
Journal of Criminal
Flynn, Riann Pena, &Justice
Kevin N. Morris

Measuring the Psychological Impacts of Prison-Based
Dog Training Programs and In-Prison Outcomes for
Inmates (2020)

OutreachDuring this reporting period, SPP posted 6 blog posts (http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/bloggalleries/blog/) to the SPP website (sustainabilityinprisons.org). The blog posts are summarized in thetable below.
Table 29. Most SPP blog posts, January – December 2021.
Title
Adapting During Challenging Times: A Check-In from SPP
Highlighting the Many Successes of Nichole Alexander
Welcoming Emily Passarelli to the SPP Team
Susan Christopher’s Lasting Impact
SPP Bees Preparing for WinterFoundation of Gardening at LCC

AuthorErica Benoit
Erica Benoit
Erica Benoit and Emily Passarelli
Erica Benoit
Jennifer Bass
Jennifer Bass

Date
02/23/2021
04/19/2021
06/10/2021
09/24/2021
10/22/2021
12/30/2021

SPP’s main outlets for social media include Facebook (facebook.com/sustainabilityinprisons/), Twitter(twitter.com/SPP_WA), and Instagram (instagram.com/sustainabilityinprisons/).
The SPP Facebook page gained 65 Page Likes in this reporting period, bringing the Total Page Likes to
2,091. During this reporting period, we made 58 posts on Facebook that received over 3,800 likes,
shares, and comments. The most popular posts are summarized in the following table.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report58

Table 30. Most popular Facebook posts, January – December 2021.
Subject
New Hire for Education and Outreach Manager: Emily Passarelli
Blog Post on Nichole Alexander and her many successes
Blog Post on Susan Christopher’s self-reflection
Post Share: Grady Mitchell’s Wise Words
Post Share: Representative Tara Simmons shares that Governor
Jay Inslee signed HB 1078 into law
Giving Tuesday Post
Give Something Back Opportunity
Blog Post: Clark College, HS+, and Foundation in Gardening
Solar Education Resources shared in prisonsSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report

516
136
291
373

# Likes,Comments,
Shares
88
122
100
23

05/14/2021
04/20/2021
10/05/2021
02/08/2021

372

44

04/08/2021

354
349
338
430

28
10
20
40

11/20/2021
05/07/2021
12/30/2021
04/02/2021# People
ReachedDate

59

Appendix 1. SPP Programs in Washington State Prisons, January 2021
– December 2021
We reported on 141 SPP programs in Washington State’s 12 prisons this year; see list below. Some
additional programs were in development during the reporting period and are not indicated here.
Programs suspended due to COVID-19 are notated below and have plans to resume normal operation in
the future. For links to programs, partner organizations, and highlights for each program, see
http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/spp-programs-in-wa/.
SPP Programs reported by all 12 WA prisons (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
*Suspended due to COVID-19.
Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)
Roots of Success*Beekeeping
Gardens: Main
Gardens: Minimum
Flower gardens
Pollinator plantings
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Worm farm: Main
SPL: Quilting*Computers 4 Kids
Pawsitive dog training – prison program*
Sawyer community work crew/firewood donation
Forestry
Nature Imagery
Reclaimed Water System

Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC)
Roots of Success*Beekeeping
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Ozette potato program
Waste sorting & recycling
Dog training and adoption
Cat program
Water catchment
Waste water treatment
Farmers Market

Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC)
Beekeeping: CCCC*
Beekeeping: McNeil Island
Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report60Aquaponics
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Training dogs for veterans
Community College Horticulture
Construction
Water use reduction and catchment
Waste water treatment
Forestry
Community work

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC)
Roots of Success
Beekeeping
Land restoration
Heritage and bee gardens
Garden: Main, maintenance area
Waste sorting & recycling
Toys for Tots*
Teddy Bears from reclaimed materials*
Ridge Dogs
Service dogs for veterans
Gardens: Minimum
Composting: Minimum*
Gardening Class

Larch Corrections Center (LCC)
Roots of Success*Beekeeping*
Gardens
Plantain, food source for Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies
Houseplants*
Bird feeders
Wood craft donations
Larch Dog Adoption Program*
Larch Cat Adoption Program*
Waste reduction*
Waste sorting & recycling*
Large-scale composting*Waste water treatment
Forestry
Community work

Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW)
Roots of Success*Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report61

Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly program
Beekeeping
Environmental Workshop Series*
GRACE (Gardening for Restoration and Conservation Education) Project*
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Conservation crews*
Small-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Water use reduction & catchment*
Pawsitive Prison Project
Plant and animal habitat*
House plants

Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC)
WSR
Composting with Bugs: Worm Farm, Black Soldier Flies, Bokashi
City of Monroe public flowers
Gardening curriculum development
Roots of Success*
SPL Bicycles from Heaven
SPL Wheelchair program
Bird habitat
Waste sorting & recycling*
Waste water treatment certification*
Flower gardens
Vegetable gardens
SOU
Beekeeping
Vegetable gardens
Nature Imagery
Cat program
TRU
Beekeeping
Gardens
Community Aide Coalition: quilting, crochet, textile arts
Dog training and adoption

Olympic Corrections Center (OCC)
Gardens
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Water features
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Waste water treatment
Water catchment
Solar power

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report62

Wood shop
Dog training and adoption*
Green Building*Firewood*
Community crew*Forestry

Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Roots of Success
Environmental Workshop Series*
Beekeeping
Prairie Conservation Nursery*
Emergent vegetation mats*
Gardening curriculum pilot
Gardens and greenhouses
Lifer Garden
Food Bank fundraisers
Pollinator plantings
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets, fruit orchard
Bird houses
Sustainability channel*
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Water catchment
Bicycle Repair
Wheelchair Repair
Service dogs for veterans*
Toy Time
SBU Art ClassSBU Looming Class
Community Fundraisers
Diversity Committee Fundraiser

Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
Roots of Success*Environmental Workshop Series*
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Beekeeping, “Intensive Bee Management Unit”
Gardens and greenhouses
Flower gardens
Horticulture
Potted plants and plant starts*
Construction: bus stops, tiny homes, Neighborhood Pantries, bird houses
Nature Imagery
House plants
Large-scale composting*Waste sorting & recycling

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report63Shoe and clothing repurposing*Training dogs for veterans
Composting with Bugs: Worm Farm, Black Soldier Flies, Bokashi

Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW)Roots of Success*
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Gardens and greenhouses
Beekeeping
Pollinator plantings
Community College Horticulture
Mother Earth Farm, offsite farm crew*
Prison Pet Partnership*
Sisters of Charity: quilts, fabric crafts, wildlife rescue
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting*Electric vehicles
Lighting upgrades

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)
Institutional Sustainability Garden
Waste sorting & recycling
Composting, main
Electrical upgrades
Water conservation
BAR Units
Kitten program*
Roots of Success*
Crochet Program*
MSU
Beekeeping*
Flower gardens
Rental garden boxes*
Dog program*
Community work crew*South Complex
Rental garden boxes
Sustainable Practices Lab
SPL: Learning Center
SPL: Wood shop & carving
SPL: Furniture Repair
SPL: Sign shop
SPL: Aquaculture and Aquaponics
SPL: Parole-a-bear
SPL: Worm Farm
SPL: Art program
SPL: Creative Projects

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report64

SPL: Quilting*
SPL: Creative projects
SPL: Water treatment systems*
SPL: Roots of Success*
SPL: Green Zone
141 active programs reported by 12 prisonsSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report65Appendix 2. SPP Partners and Allies in Washington State PrisonsDue to pandemic COVID, some collaborations with partner organizations are suspended.
Complementing the efforts of founding partners, WA Corrections and Evergreen, program partners andallies contribute to almost every SPP program. Most programs would not be possible without their
input, enthusiasm, and resources. In this reporting period, we have 181 known (reported) partners.
Considering that WSP’s Sustainable Practices Lab has donated program creations to more than 400
charitable organizations, we know the actual number is far greater!
SPP Partners and Allies (Partnering with WA Corrections, Evergreen, or both), January 2021 – December
2021:
Adams County Pet Rescue
ARC of Tri-Cities
Assist International
Benton Franklin Humane Society
Black Prisoners Caucus
Blue Mountain Action Council
Bogachiel Fish Hatchery
Brigadoon Service Dogs
Calbag Metals
Canyon Creek Cabinet Company
Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
Center for Natural Lands Management
Central Kitsap Food Bank
Centralia College
Cherish our Children
Christian Aid Center
Christmas for Kids
City of Airway Heights
City of Monroe
City of Ocean Shores
City of Sultan
Clallam Bay Food Bank
Clark County Beekeeping Association
Clark County Food Bank
Coastal Harvest
Correctional Industries
Diamonds in the Ruff
Dolly Haakenson
Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
Duke University
Everett Police Department
Evergreen Hospice
Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students
Fallen Outdoors
Family Promise of Grays Harbor

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report66

Farm to School
Forks Chamber of Commerce
Forks Lions Club
Forks Soroptimists
Forks Timber Museum
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Friends of the Carpenter
Friends of Puget Prairies
Friends of Willapa Wildlife Refuge
Great Peninsula Conservancy
GRACE Project
Habitat for Humanity
Hard Headz
Harvest Now
Holy Rosary Church
Hood Canal School District
Hood Canal Food Bank
Hope Crew
Humane Society for Southwest Washington
I-CON Systems, Inc.
Institute for Applied Ecology
Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Interfaith Family Shelter
Jefferson Land Trust
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Justice Involved Students Group, Evergreen
K & S Recycling
Kaff Zanjira
Kalaloch Lodge
Kitsap Conservation District
Kitsap Humane Society
Kiwanis Hoodsport
Korean Women’s Association
Lake Quinault Fire Department
Lamb Weston
Lettuce Grow
Lions Club
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Little Earth Farm
Littlerock Elementary School
Makah Tribe
Marysville Police Department
Master Composters
Master Gardeners
Matlock Community Church
Mid-Columbia Beekeepers
Millers Homestead

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report67Monroe Community Senior Center
Monroe Police Department
Mother Earth FarmNASA Astrobiology Program
Nature Imagery in Prisons Project (NIPP)
North Mason Food Bank
North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers Association
Northwest District Beekeepers Association
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
Ohio State University
OlycapOlympia Beekeepers Association
Olympia Community Solar
Olympic Natural Resource Center
Olympic Peninsula Humane Society
Oregon Food BankSPP Oregon - Oregon Department of Corrections
Oregon State University Extension Service
Oregon Zoo
Over the Rainbow Fabrics
Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship
PAWS
Peninsula College
Pioneer United Methodist Church
PPL Electric Utilities
Project 41
Providence Hospital
Purrfect Pals
Quileute High School
Quileute Tribe
Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction
Quillayute Valley School District
Relay for Life
Roots of SuccessSalmon for Soldiers
Samish Nation
Sarge’s Place for Homeless Vets
Seattle Children's Hospital
Second Harvest Food Bank
Shriners Hospital for Children
SNAP Spokane
South Sound Prairies
Snohomish County Boys & Girls Club
Snohomish County CTA
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
Snohomish Tribe
Spokane Humane Society

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report68

SpokAnimal
SPP Tasmania
St. Leo’s Parish – Tacoma
Summit Assistance Dogs
Sunshine and Rainbows Child Development Center
Sustainable Living Center
Swedish Hospital
Symbiotic Cycles
Tacoma Community College
Texas Department of Criminal JusticeThurston County Food Bank
Tilth Alliance
Town of Clearwater, WA
Treehouse for Kids
Tri-Cities Toys for Tots
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
Union Gospel Mission
University Beyond Bars
University of Utah
University of Washington Ecosystem Science Division
University of Washington Composting and Waste Treatment Scientists
University of Washington – Tacoma, Professors Criminology & Restoration Ecology
Un-loop
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Walla Walla Sustainability Living Center
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA)
Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Parks
Waste Connections
Waste Management
Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG)
West Columbia Gorge Humane Society
West Plains Beekeepers Association
West Sound Beekeepers Association
West Sound Wildlife Shelter
Westlake Shelter
Westport Shipyard
Wheels for the World
Whidbey-Camano Land Trust
Wolf Haven International

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report69

Woodland Park Zoo
Wormfarm Institute
WSU Department of Entomology
WSU Extension, Pierce County
YWCA
181 reported organizations + 100s more charities receiving donations

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report70Appendix 3. Abbreviations
Table 31. Common abbreviations found in current report
Prisons
AHCC
Airway Heights Corrections Center, Airway Heights (near Spokane)
CBCC
Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay (northwest Olympic Peninsula)
CCCC
Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Littlerock
CRCC
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Connell (south, central Washington)
LCC
Larch Corrections Center, Yacolt (northeast of Vancouver)
MCC
Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe (northeast of Seattle)
MCC-SOU
Monroe Correctional Complex, Special Offender Unit
MCC-TRU
Monroe Correctional Complex, Twin Rivers Unit
MCC-WSR
Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington State Reformatory
MCCCW
Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Belfair (Kitsap Peninsula)
OCC
Olympic Corrections Center, Forks
PPP
Pawsitive Prison Project
SCCC
Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Aberdeen
WCC
Washington Corrections Center, Shelton
WCCW
Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor
WSP
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla
WSP-MSU
Washington State Penitentiary, Minimum Security Unit
WSP-BARWashington State Penitentiary, Baker Adams Rainier Unit
Agencies & Organizations
ABKA

American Boarding Kennel Association

CI
CPD
CNLM
DNR
DoD
Evergreen
HSSW
IAE
JBLM
NSF
OR Zoo
RDA
SBU
SPL
SPP
USFWS
WA Corrections
WDFW
WPZ
WSDOT
WSIRB

Correctional Industries
Capital Planning & Development (WA Corrections)Center for Natural Lands Management
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Defense
The Evergreen State College, a public, four-year institution
Humane Society for Southwest Washington
Institute for Applied Ecology
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
National Science Foundation
Oregon Zoo
Research & Data Analytics (WA Corrections)
Skills Building Unit
Sustainable Practices Lab
Sustainability in Prisons Project
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Washington State Department of Corrections
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Woodland Park Zoo
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Institutional Review Board

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report71Definitions & General Abbreviations
Maximum custody areas are also called IMUs (Intensive Management Unit) andMAX
segregation
Medium custody includes close custody, which has less freedom, and general
MED
population.
Minimum custody areas are also called MSUs (Minimum Security Unit). WA has
MIN
three prisons (CCCC, LCC, and MCCCW) that are wholly MIN and houseincarcerated individuals with four years or less remaining on their sentences.
OMNI
Offender Management Network Information
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): 2021 Annual Report72