Through the collaborative efforts of the Asian Pacific Family Club and the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC), Lettuce Grow is now providing multiple gardening programs for adults in custody (AICs) at the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP). Lettuce Grow is part of a non-profit organization called Growing Gardens. The relationship between Lettuce Grow and DOC began in 2009. Through their joint efforts, DOC has been able to grow between 200,000 and 300,000 pounds of food each year. An astonishing 95 percent of this food goes into the prisons’ kitchens, while over 10,000 pounds are donated to food banks and community organizations across the state. As of 2024, Lettuce Grow provides various levels of educational gardening programs in every correctional institution in Oregon.
In April 2024, AICs from OSP successfully completed a six-week “Seed-to-Supper” gardening class created by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State University (OSU). Statewide, over 450 AICs have graduated from this class.
In August 2024, AICs successfully completed a 14-week Sustainable Gardening course, which is part of the college-level horticulture program and serves as the academic portion of the OSU Extension Service Master Gardening program. The curriculum covers topics including gardening, landscaping, and pest management. Last week, each student received an OSU Certificate of Home Horticulture, a recognized job credential in the state of Oregon. Statewide, over 1,300 AICs have graduated from the Sustainable Gardening class.
Lettuce Grow’s mission statement explains, “By bringing gardening and gardening education to AICs, we create positive experiences that can aid an AICs successful reentry into society.” According to Growing Gardens literature, while the incarcerated prisoner recidivism rate in the United States is over 75 percent, in the state of Oregon it is 30 percent. Even better, AICs who have successfully completed the Lettuce Grow/Growing Gardens programs have only a 4 percent recidivism rate, making Lettuce Grow one of the most successful and cost-effective programs offered to AICs.
Kate Bildsten, the Education Manager for Lettuce Grow, facilitates these classes. She has been teaching gardening in multiple carceral settings for the past two years. In discussing the benefits of the programs offered to AICs, Ms. Bildsten explains that the knowledge and skills AICs gain can be used as occupational credentials, as well as to create and nurture their personal gardens or participate in community gardening efforts. Other classes available through Lettuce Grow include Greenhouse Management, Plant Disease Diagnostics, Plant Taxonomy, Culinary Arts, and the OSU Extension Whole Farm Management.
The partnership between the Asian Pacific Family Club and the Oregon Department of Corrections, through Lettuce Grow, provides adults in custody with essential skills and opportunities for personal growth. These gardening programs not only reduce recidivism rates but also equip AICs with practical knowledge that aids in their reentry into society. By focusing on education and hands-on experience, Lettuce Grow continues to make a meaningful impact on both individuals and the broader community.
Story by OSP PIO Media Team Member, R. Guzek
