The South Carolina prison system is taking an innovative step towards rehabilitation and self-sufficiency with the introduction of a new vertical farming program. This pilot initiative, named “Growing Justice,” is set to transform upcycled shipping containers into fully functional vertical farms within correctional facilities.
The program, kicking off at the Camille Graham Correctional Center in Columbia, is supported by a significant grant awarded to a non-profit organization. Its multifaceted goals include providing inmates with valuable job training, offering re-entry support, and supplying fresh produce for consumption within the correctional facilities.
The vertical farms are designed to produce a substantial amount of nutrient-rich leafy greens, estimated to reach 48,000 pounds annually at Camille Graham Correctional Center alone. This fresh, pesticide-free produce will directly benefit the institution’s food program.
Beyond food production, a core objective of “Growing Justice” is to equip incarcerated individuals with real-world experience and career training in the burgeoning fields of vertical farming and agricultural technology. The program aims to offer hands-on experience in every aspect of vertical farm production, including horticulture, seeding, growing, harvesting, and technology operation. This vocational training is seen as a crucial step in reducing recidivism by providing participants with marketable skills for employment upon their release.
This initiative marks a pioneering effort as it represents one of the first vertical farms to be located on-site at a correctional institution in the United States. The program combines classroom education with practical, hands-on learning, with cohorts of 18-20 participants undergoing a five-month, 200-hour curriculum.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections is collaborating with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and a local agricultural technology company to implement this groundbreaking project, highlighting a commitment to innovative programs that benefit both inmates and the wider community.
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