Re: Prison farm

Dianne Dowling | Dec 13, 2023

In the Dec. 6 edition, you published an article by Calvin Neufeld, about the re-introduction of programming at Kingston's two prison farms.

We strongly disagree with a statement near the top of the article, "Nothing has yet been achieved in prison farm implementation, which began in early 2018."

At both prison farms, Collins Bay Institution (CBI) and Joyceville Institution (JI), inmates have been involved, since the program was re-instated, in field crops production (soybeans, corn, grains and hay), with the harvests fed to livestock on the farm, or sold to outside buyers.

Both sites have large vegetable gardens with the produce given weekly to the Food Bank.  In 2023, more than 20 000 pounds of vegetables were donated.

Bee-keeping was introduced about five years ago at both sites.  Inmates take bee-keeping courses and earn certificates to add to their resumes.  Beekeeping is a valuable therapeutic activity where participants learn to work with the bees slowly and calmly.   In 2023, 1300 pounds of honey was produced, and were sold to bulk buyers, Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) kitchens, or sold by the jar to staff and other customers.  Twelve inmates were involved in bee-keeping in 2023.  

After its success here in Kingston, bee-keeping was added to programming at Stoney Mountain Institution in Manitoba.

As part of the forest management plan at JI, maple syrup is produced and sold to CSC kitchens and through CSC canteens -- 550 litres in 2023.  Members of the Pathways (Indigenous) group at JI are involved in honey and maple syrup production.  Inmates earn certificates in arborist skills through their forest management work.

The University of Guelph is running a hazelnut research program at JI, with inmate participation; the program tests hazelnut varieties for hardiness in this area.

Apples and pears from a heritage orchard at JI were donated this year to shelters or were used for personal consumption by inmates.  The orchards are maintained and harvested by the prison farm inmates at JI.

At CBI, inmates took care of about 20 dairy cattle and 75 beef cattle this year.  The beef cattle were sold this fall, and the dairy cattle will be part of the dairy operations at JI when they commence next spring.  The inmates looking after livestock are in the barn each morning by 6 am, on their own initiative.

Studies have shown that prison farms and other employment programs are successful in rehabilitating inmates, help them become more employable, and ultimately allow them to integrate into society and not return to prison.

The costs of incarceration are high, and investments in programs will save money in  the future.

To say that nothing has been achieved on the farms since 2018 is simply wrong.

Dianne Dowling