| The Scattergood Foundation supports this innovative public-private partnership between the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) and the Philadelphia Prison System (PPS) that provides vital training and support to the city’s prison population, which is in great need of vocational services and opportunities. The program provides hands-on training in horticultural and landscape practices, in addition to life skills training and nutrition education. The training includes a strong behavioral health component to enable prisoners to develop skills necessary to support themselves and their families, gain meaningful employment and succeed in their communities upon their release.
Since the program began four years ago as part of Philadelphia’s City Harvest program, 55,500 pounds of produce have been grown at 42 community gardens and distributed to 32 area kitchens to feel 900 families in need each week. As cities work toward becoming more sustainable places to live, work and play, this program takes on new meaning and added value and will provide an innovative model for replication in other cities. The program offers inmates the chance to learn new skills, work with plants and the earth, and give back to society while nourishing their own minds, bodies and spirits. |
