Interested in learning more about our Conservation in Prisons program? This month, we need your help to transplant native violets at Coffee Creek Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF). This is a great opportunity to learn more about the work we do to support conservation in prisons—in partnership with adults in custody and correctional facilities across the West. This event will be held outside the perimeter of the facility.
About the viola program: The viola program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) started in 2013 and currently grows native Hookedspur violet (viola adunca) plants in containers and beds in a hoop house outside the facility fence. From spring to summer, incarcerated crew members (from minimum security) harvest viola leaves to feed larvae of the threatened Oregon Silverspot Butterfly, which are reared in a lab at the Oregon Zoo.
After a successful 2023 harvest season, our focus this month will be on transplanting new viola seedlings for next year! We aim to expand our capacity from around 2,000 plants to 4,000 to meet the growing needs of the Oregon Zoo’s butterfly lab—but this will require a lot of transplanting! We welcome anyone who is interested in learning more about our program and helping our conservation efforts for a morning work party with the crew.
- When: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm
- Where: Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (about 90 minutes from Corvallis)
- Work to be completed: Transplanting new native violets seedlings for next year’s harvest
- What to bring: Full lunch, water, and jacket. All volunteers must fill out IAE’s volunteer release form and complete a background check to participate.
RSVP to Evan Lasley at [email protected] by September 13 at the latest. All volunteers must complete a background check before participating in the event. If you are interested in participating in this event, but live closer to the Portland metro area, let us know! Once your background check has been processed, we will provide you with directions to meet us at CCCF.
Our sincere thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Corrections, and the Oregon Zoo for their funding and support of the Conservation in Prisons Program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.
