Evolve Our Prison Farms (EOPF) is a Kingston-based initiative that arose during Correctional Service Canada’s public consultation concerning possible re-instatement of prison farms. EOPF proposes an “evolved farm” model of plant-based agriculture for prison farms. This model incorporates ecological sustainability, interspecies ethics, food security and public health, rehabilitation, and meaningful employment and community development opportunities.

To date, most of the grassroots organizing on the prison farm issue has focused on re-instating the old model of animal agriculture (dairy and egg farming), despite its ethical, environmental, health and financial costs. In particular, a highly sentimentalized (and euphemistic) discourse of prisoners engaging in ‘therapeutic’ and ‘caring’ relationships with animals has been promulgated, despite the realities of forcibly confining and inseminating animals, coercing them to work, separating cows from calves, and slaughtering and butchering animals. In what possible way is it ‘therapeutic’ for prisoners to be encouraged to ‘bond’ with animals while depriving, harming and killing them?

EOPF offers a truly progressive vision of ethical and ecologically responsible farming, and meaningful activity and life skills development for prisoners. Continue Reading