Approach to Our Work in Carceral Spaces

 

Seed & Bloom designs class sessions that are rooted in the framework of therapeutic horticulture. 

 

Therapeutic Horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well being through active or passive involvement in plant and  plant-related activities. In spaces created by Seed & Bloom, we integrate rehabilitative and vocational plans for our participants using plants as a healing medium. Our mission is realized by offering:

 

• An improvement in emotional well being for participants 

 

• Plants as a healing medium for participants

 

• Sharing technical skills in the realm of horticulture (soil gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, health & wellness (using what we grow to create wellness products) 

 

• Sharing concepts related to the history of land and agriculture

 

• Sharing concepts related to healthy recipe preparation  

 

• Introducing participants to guest speakers from the community of Santa Fe, including those working in the green jobs space, culinary space, and academic instructors who bring in knowledge that build upon the skills shared in class sessions

 

• Integrating  professional development skills that focus on resume writing, and helping participants craft a narrative that considers their prior work experience alongside skills that are currently being developed in classes

An important note about person-first language in these spaces. 

No magic word can deliver justice for prisons in this country. But talking about people who are behind bars as people is vital. Because they are people. They are people with an enormous amount of complexity, emotion, depth, awareness, and potential. They are people who are navigating a life and a world before and after incarceration. It’s our job to handle that with gentleness and intention, and so in Seed and Bloom spaces we refer to individuals as participants or students.