A federal grant is helping to train female prisoners in greenhouse tech type work
Originally published by WEKU.
A team of University of Kentucky horticulturalists is working with inmates at a Kentucky prison. Their grant-funded project seeks to help meet the need for greenhouse tech workers.
The $100,000 AgriProspect two-year grant will go to support additional training for a horticulture class at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women. Casey Byrd works in UK Horticulture Extension in controlled environment agriculture. Byrd said some of these women may pursue greenhouse tech jobs upon their release.
“The greenhouse industry desperately needs people that are able to repair, maintain, help build and construct greenhouses and also get in and look at irrigation issues, fan problems,” said Byrd.
Byrd said the program could be replicated for high school or technical school students. She noted over a year’s time, 40 different students at the Pee Wee Valley prison could participate in the project.
Qiuglu Ying is a UK assistant extension professor of horticulture. Ying said this grant is connected to a larger grant tied to employment needs in Appalachia.
“Is really to develop to see an eco-system in eastern Kentucky. In eastern Kentucky, there are a lot of unemployed or under-represented populations. But, we’re really trying to improve the overall industry in eastern Kentucky,” said Ying.
Ying said there is the real possibility of additional commercial greenhouses being established in Appalachia Kentucky. Casey Byrd said 12 to 16 students in the prison at any time are involved in classes.
Byrd noted not all expect to seek jobs in greenhouses upon completion of their sentences. Byrd added there are therapeutic benefits to exposure to this horticulture. A major emphasis is hydroponics within the greenhouse operation.
Originally published by WEKU.
Republished with permission.
