Horticulturists at UK recently received a grant to bring technical know-how + eco-friendly job skills to a different kind of classroom: the women at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women.

Part of UK's AgriProspects Workforce Developement Network campaign, this two-year, $100,000 grant is designed to provide potential career paths in high-demand industries for women upon release. The funding will be used for:

Qualified instructors
Up-to-date textbooks + learning materials
Technical equipment
Greenhouse construction + maintenance

Students of the 14-month program will gain knowledge in basic botany + farming techniques, as well as technical know-how which could lead to a career in HVAC or electrical work.

More than just a glass box, greenhouses are considered ecosystems that balance nature and technology to create optimal growing conditions in any environment. According to Casey Byrd, Agricultural Extension Associate at UK, as greenhouses grow in popularity, so does the demand for skilled workers to operate and maintain them.

Byrd, who helps manage the grant, went on to say these job skills could also translate into retail employment at garden and home improvement stores. Byrd added that beyond job training, participants in the program experience the therapeutic benefits of working in nature and growing their own food. The program admits about 40 women each year, and with such a positive atmosphere, classes fill up fast.