CLEARFIELD -- For many people, spending time in the garden decreases anxiety and stress and encourages social interaction.
Donna Raby, a mental health therapist at the Davis Learning Center's counseling services, decided to use a hands on approach to help her patients, so she got them involved in planting a salsa garden.
"We had this little plot of ground that we decided to use as a garden. We thought it would be fun to do a salsa garden and let our clients be involved," Raby said. "About a month ago, we had an Eagle Scout come in and put in some boxes for us and we had some topsoil donated to us so we could get started."
Raby, along with Davis Learning Center coordinator Tiffany Jesperson and her clients, talked about which plants they would use for the garden and then went to work.
"We planted around 48 tomato and pepper plants, onions and cilantro," she said. "I have both adult and child clients and a little over half of them have been interested and involved."
Raby's clients will spend the summer weeding, watering and cultivating the garden. This fall everyone will come together and make salsa.
"I think we'll probably have a salsa party in September," Raby said. "I think the kids will really enjoy picking the vegetables and then cleaning, cutting and mixing them. It's a great way to teach them how everything works from start to finish and what they can accomplish."
Raby said she's seen a positive influence on her patients by having them participate in the garden.
"They have been really excited about it. They look forward to going out there to see what's growing and they really feel a part of it," she said. "They are looking forward to taking some of the vegetables home with them and the kids are excited to show their parents what they've been working on."
Raby said working in the garden helps her clients feel important.
"They know they are giving back and making a difference," she said. "They can see that with a little work you can turn nothing into something and they really feel a therapeutic effect from working in the garden."
Raby's patients also planted pumpkin seeds so the children could take home a pumpkin in time for Halloween.
"It's been a really good thing for all of us," she said. "The kids get out there and they stay busy and they start talking and really open up. It makes them happy."
The salsa garden isn't the only project the Davis Learning Center is involved with. Last February, in conjunction with Layton Rotary, Clearfield High School, Clearfield city and Clearfield Community Church, a piece of land across from the high school was turned into a community garden.
"The city donated the land and set up plots," Jesperson said. "We started planting last month and we have several families involved. Everything has been funded through a grant and will help our underserved population get the healthy nutritious food they need."
The garden consists of fruit trees and a variety of vegetables, Jesperson said.
"We've invited our community at the Davis Learning Center to participate in the garden and to help cultivate it and so far it's working out great," she said.
The Davis Learning Center opened a little over a year ago and includes counseling, a medical clinic, adult education, English as a second language courses and high school completion.
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