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| Inmates Cultivate Moss |
| By The Seattle Times |
| Published: 10/31/2005 |
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For two years, a procession of prisoners have watered, rotated, weighed and collected data on trays of forest moss at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center. Some have considered it another pointless chore. But others have filled notebooks with data and remembered scientific names. One former prisoner even took to keeping moss under his bed for closer daily observation. The point is to find out whether moss can be commercially grown for florists and stop organized gangs that illegally strip moss from Northwest forests a problem that's gotten so bad that the U.S. Forest Service is enacting new rules to limit harvests and give local landowners better control. The "kooky" idea of enlisting prisoners came from wondering who had the time and space to grow moss and the need for more interaction with nature. The minimum-security men's prison, in a state forest 23 miles southwest of Olympia, is home to about 400 people who have four years or less remaining on their sentences. Since arriving 18 months ago, Superintendent Dan Pacholke has been transforming the prison into a model of sustainability: In the past year, prisoners grew and ate 7,200 pounds of organic vegetables, collected thousands of gallons of rainwater and recycled 27 tons of garbage. They also tended a worm farm and looked after the prison turtle, which officials say is a way to save money and keep prisoners occupied. Do prison officials worry that inmates could put their skills to illegal use? "The ones that grew mushrooms and pot, they're excellent. They really know how to grow stuff," said Georgia Harvey, the correctional-program manager. "They're my best gardeners; they are excellent gardeners." |
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