Home > Programs > Programs By Facility > Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)

Hosts one of Washington State’s most extensive Sustainability in Prisons Project programs, integrating environmental stewardship with vocational training and community service. The facility features large-scale gardens—including a unique Diversity Garden—pollinator habitat, beekeeping, composting, and waste sorting that dramatically reduce waste and produce fresh food for kitchens and donation. Incarcerated technicians refurbish computers for schools, train service dogs, and create valuable compost and firewood for local partners. AHCC also supports innovative practices like worm farming.

Program Partners Highlights

Program

Aquaculture and Aquaponics

Highlights as of December 2025:

This system uses a closes system loop to grow house plants and plant starts that are used across the facility.

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Art program

Highlights as of December 2025:

Various art pieces created by incarcerated artists are donated to auctions that support various charities.

Area:

SPL

Partners:

Various nonprofit partners

Program

Beekeeping

Highlights as of December 2025:

4 healthy hives that help pollinate SPL’s Green Zone. Two classes are in session now – a Beginner course with 7 incarcerated students and 2 staff members and a Journeyman course with 7 incarcerated students! Tried a new mite treatment this Spring that has worked well for their bees.

Area:

MUS – SPL

Partners:

West Plain Beekeepers, Washington State Beekeepers Association

Program

Community crew

Highlights as of December 2020:

Sustainability-related activities included landscaping, mowing, trimming, brush removal, cleaning out creeks, tree and shrub planting for fish and wildlife habitat, and pumpkin harvest; During COVID-19, crews have not been allowed out into the community and have focused on maintaining facility grounds

Area:

WSP-MSU

Partners:

City/County of Walla Walla, Veterans Administration, Port of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Fairgrounds, Walla Walla Landfill, Walla Walla County Private Properties, and local Cities and/or Counties such as Waitsburg, Dayton, College Place, Prescott

Program

Composting, main

Highlights as of December 2020:

In previous years, 75.9925 tons of post-consumer food waste to compost; 85.605 tons of post-consumer food waste to in-ground composting to improve soil in wheat fields; saves ~$150,000 in disposal fees.

Area:

WSP

 

Program

Crochet Program

Highlights as of December 2025:

A team of 4 SPL workers crochet various items for donation.

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Electrical upgrades

Highlights as of December 2020:

This past year, Facility Electrical Dept continued LED lighting retrofits: 90 perimeter pole lights, 282 fluorescent to LED replacements, 66 light fixtures, and 21 wall packs

Area:

WSP

 

Program

Flower gardens

Area:

MSU

 

Program

Flower gardens

Highlights as of December 2020:

Pollinator-friendly flower gardens, boxes, and baskets; added several new planter boxes and a pollinator garden of clove

Area:

WSP-MSU

 

Program

Furniture Repair

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Green Zone

Program

Horticulture

Highlights as of December 2020:

Five flower plots for members of mental health programming

Area:

WSP-MHU

Partners:

Washington State University Department of Entomology

Program

Institutional Sustainability Garden

Highlights as of December 2020:

In 2020, grew ~89,000 lbs of produce, donated 23,530 lbs, remaining 65,054 lbs. for prison kitchen; 2018 grew ~110,000 lbs of produce, donated 2,471 lbs; remainder to prison kitchen, saving $122,677

Area:

WSP

Partners:

Blue Mountain Action Council and Christian Aid Center

Program

Institutional Sustainability Garden

Program

Kitten program

Highlights as of December 2020:

Temporarily suspended due to COVID-19; in previous years, 125 kittens and cats (mostly kittens) socialized and raised for adoption

Area:

WSP-BAR

Partners:

Blue Mountain Humane Society

Program

Parole-a-bear

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Quilting

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Rental garden boxes

Highlights as of December 2020:

48 raised bed gardens, available to individual renters for personal use; program created with goal to reduce violence

Area:

WSP-South Complex

 

Program

Rental garden boxes

Highlights as of December 2020:

38 raised garden bed boxes used by 58 individuals; limited movement during COVID-19 pandemic caused some difficulty in accessing gardens. Despite these challenges, program received ~100,000 hours of participation

Area:

WSP-MSU

Partners:

———–

Program

Sagebrush Steppe Ecological Conservation Program

Area:

SPL

 

Program

Sheep conservation program

Highlights as of December 2020:

Program active but some work is pending the appointment of a lead animal researcher for WSU; previous year, 9 Suffolk ewes produced 18 lambs; 10 female and 8 male; partners developed new data tracking systems and protocols. Certification and materials are in development

Area:

WSP-MSU

Partners:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State University

Program

Sign Shop

Area:

SPL

Partners:

————

Program

SPL Overview

Highlights as of December 2020:

Program donated 9,000+ items to nonprofits and provided 12,750 items for state use. All technicians receive education and training. COVID-19 was a large focus for SPL: 20,785 COVID-related items (face shields, barriers, and over 15,000 masks) were made out of donated fabric for the community and state.

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Sustainable Practices Lab: receive materials donations from partners; donated to 550 charities since start of SPL 2012

Program

SPL Overview

Area:

SPL

Partners:

Sustainable Practices Lab: receive materials donations from partners; donated to 550 charities since start of SPL in 2012

Program

SPL: Aquaculture and Aquaponics

Highlights as of December 2020:

Grew 800lbs of lettuce for prison kitchen; built new outdoor tilapia pond and improved inside program structures; technicians train and practice in fish breeding

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

SPL: Art program

Highlights as of December 2020:

More than 492 unique and amazing paintings were created using recycled pallet wood and old bed sheets for canvas, which were donated to various charities

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Various nonprofit partners

Program

SPL: Creative projects

Highlights as of December 2020:

In past year, created more than 60 projects such as puzzles and sculptures

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

SPL: Furniture Repair

Highlights as of December 2020:

Sort and salvage donated materials; 1,929 pieces of institutional furniture were repaired and put back into use; instruction on safety and tool use

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

SPL: Green Zone

Highlights as of December 2020:

8,900 lbs. of produce donated to Walla Walla Senior Center and local soup kitchens in response to increased need for meals due to COVID-19. Farm to school still operated this year with the local school districts, and SPL supplied 1,200 starter plants and 2,000 lbs. of compost. Educational learning for youth also provided by Farm to school organizers.

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Farm to school, Lettuce Grow, Master Gardening program, OSU

Program

SPL: Green Zone composting

Highlights as of December 2020:

40+ tons kitchen food waste combined with waste paper results in 20+ tons of finished compost; compost spread in

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

SPL: Learning Center

Area:

SPL

Partners:

Institution for Betterment

Program

SPL: Learning Center

Highlights as of December 2020:

Creates education curricula, manages inventory, coordinates events, TV repair and rental

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

SPL: Quilting

Highlights as of December 2020:

Using donated or cast-off fabric and thread, constructed 480+ quilts and blankets for charity

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Fallen Outdoors, United Methodist Church, Brian Fisher Memorial org, local retirement/convalescent homes.

Program

SPL: Roots of Success, environmental course

Highlights as of December 2020:

Graduated 23rd class August 2018; 353 graduates so far; program on hold until funding available

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Roots of Success

Program

SPL: Waste sorting and recycling

Highlights as of December 2020:

Program donated 9,000+ items to nonprofits and provided 12,750 items for state use. All technicians receive education and training. COVID-19 was a large focus for SPL: 20,785 COVID-related items (face shields, barriers, and over 15,000 masks) were made out of donated fabric for the community and state.

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Sustainable Practices Lab: receive materials donations from partners; donated to 550 charities since start of SPL 2012

Program

SPL: Water treatment systems

Highlights as of December 2020:

New, larger-scale water filter system project in planning stages: 5-year project with 300 large water filters to be constructed at SPL for large-scale project throughout the Navajo Nation

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

Project 41, Ohio State University, Duke University, Suez, Worldwide Assist, Assist International

Program

SPL: Wood Shop & Carving

Highlights as of December 2020:

2,609 woodcraft items were created for state use. 1,943 items crafted and donated to nonprofits and charities.

Area:

WSP-SPL

Partners:

WSP Employees Veterans’ Committee, Hard Headz, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, Fallen Outdoors, Salmon for Soldiers and other non-profit groups

Program

SPL: Wood Shop & Carving

Area:

SPL

 

Program

SPL: Worm Farm

Highlights as of December 2020:

Produced 5 tons of worm castings within the past year and reduced institutional landfill impact by 5+ tons; worm products donated to nonprofits and used in institution gardens

Area:

WSP-SPL

 

Program

Waste sorting & recycling

Highlights as of December 2020:

In 2020, ~275,200 pounds of cardboard, metals, and batteries diverted to recycling; new recycle shop improved sorting

Area:

WSP

 

Program

Waste sorting & recycling

Area:

WSP

 

Program

Water conservation

Highlights as of December 2020:

East Complex Big Yard switched from city water to well water. Net savings of ~$16,000 from city water and electricity costs

Area:

WSP

Partners:

Government rebates via PPL Electric Utilities; ICON Systems Inc.

Program

Water conservation

Area:

WSP

Partners:

Government rebates via PPL Electric Utilities; I-CON Systems Inc.

Program

Water treatment systems

Area:

SPL

 


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Program Participant

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“I never did well in school and my skills were more on the manual labor side. While I was incarcerated at Cedar Creek Correction Center in 2015 thru…”

Darin Armstrong

Former SPP conservation technician

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