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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 6, 2003
Contact:
Mark Tips, Juvenile Detention Manager, 360-709-3131
Juveniles in
Detention Grow Along with Plants.
OLYMPIA – A three-year program at the Thurston
County Juvenile Detention Center has been a success in connecting inmates with
the earth and the community. Staff
and youth offenders started the program in 2001 with the installation of four
raised beds for the planting of vegetables.
Since then, an additional eight beds have been installed; an area has
been created for the growing of raspberries and there is now also an area for
the growing of tree seedlings for the Streamteam organization.
Foodstuffs grown by the juveniles have been distributed to the Thurston
County Food Bank and to the Bread and Roses Shelter.
Juvenile Detention Manager Mark Tips says the
idea was to give willing offenders a chance to perform some physical labor in
a productive way and to allow them to experience the benefits of such work.
“We wanted to teach the kids about gardening, food, and caring for
the environment. It also gives
them a chance to give back to the community by donating the fruits of their
labor to important community organizations.”
Juveniles involved in the program turn the soils in the spring, plant
the vegetables, weed and water them and harvest them when they are ready, all
under the supervision of detention staff.
Also under supervision, some of the offenders help deliver items to the
Food Bank and elsewhere.
With more than 250 hours of work in 2002, the
juveniles were able to produce more than 400 pounds of fresh food items
including lettuce, carrots, green beans, broccoli and corn.
So far in 2003, more than 400 hours of work has resulted in more than
1,300 pounds of vegetables including tomatoes, potatoes, squash and peppers as
well as the items mentioned above. Most
of the foodstuffs this year were given to the Thurston County Food Bank.
Tips says future plans for the project include an
expansion of the gardens and the inclusion of flowers which can be delivered
to hospitals, retirement homes, respite care facilities and other locations.
“We also want to include some of the kids in the preparations,
marketing and sales and tracking the expenses and other activities involved on
the mental side of gardening. They
may eventually earn money to pay back restitution and learn skills that will
serve them well when they are back in the community.”
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