NEAR ABERDEEN, Wash. -- An eco-friendly experiment has found a captive audience at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center where inmates are learning to live green -- a measure that's saving taxpayers' dollars.

Behind the prison's razor wire and guard towers, something new is taking root. For one, inmate Jason Chandler is planting onions inside.

The inmate is part of a sustainability program that makes the prison cheaper to run while also helping rehabilitate offenders.

"It's kind of peaceful, I guess," Chandler said. "It takes your mind off of everything. Makes the days go by fast, too."

The prison has partnered with the Nature Conservancy and the Evergreen State College for the program, which focuses on organic produce, nature restoration and recycling.

Some inmates gather honey from the prison bee hives. Other stay busy in the greenhouses. One group helps biologists germinate seeds to restore the prairies around Fort Lewis.

"I've been amazed at the sort of pride and ownership that I've seen here," said Daeg Bryne of the Nature Conservancy.

On-site trash sorting is a huge money-saver. Inmates pick through recyclables, effectively cutting prison costs by $150,000 per year.

The recycling theme extends to a new bicycle shop on prison grounds. The bikes inmates build are given to needy families.

"It's a challenge, you know," said inmate Daniel Ross. "It's something I haven't done before in my life. I like it."

Training rescue dogs rounds out the program. Offenders teach them to be good pets, and the dogs get a shot at adoption.

Stafford Creek is one of four prisons experimenting with this program. If the program proves effective, it could be utilized in additional facilities around the state.