FARMINGTON—Students at the Red Barn Academy in a collaborative project with Tree Utah spent the day last week digging holes and planting trees on campus and along Legacy Parkway Trail to create more green space for everyone to enjoy. Red Barn is a therapeutic community for substance abusers and behavioral change.

“Tree Utah is an amazing organization,” said Marcie Valdez, Red Barn Director of Development and Community Relations. “They plant 10,000 trees across the state each year. Trees have an environmental impact and provide green space.”

Last year the Layton Rotary planted trees at the Layton IHC, she said. “Red Barn is adjacent to the Legacy Trail through a public easement. It made sense to partner with them to put trees there.”

Tree Utah covers half the cost of the trees and the rest is covered by other donors, said Valdez. “Trees can be costly. Kaysville Rotary Club and Rocky Mountain Power made an in kind donation. Glover Nursery, Tri City Nursery, Woodscape of Utah and the Bountiful Landfill also donated. It’s really incredible to see all the organizations and businesses help us create a beautiful space on campus.”

It’s fun being by the trail, she said. “It’s a place of healing and beauty for our students but also for the community. We have a therapeutic model in a farm setting at Red Barn. Students interact with animals for spiritual and mental health. Sitting under trees is serene and beautiful – a place to spend time.”

They’re also for people who walk along the trail and they keep the heat down, said Valedez. “There are so many benefits trees bring.”

In addition to the trees, Tree Utah also provided education, she said. “They gave us information on planting and how to enhance the campus. We learned so much.”

The students are excited to find other opportunities to work with Tree Utah, said Valdez. “We hope to get more education about our green house, pruning and caring for the trees on campus. It’s just a great organization.”

Red Barn students planted three Globe Willows on the campus and seven Lindens on Legacy, she said. “About half of them were picked up and delivered by Tree Utah and the other half by donors. We’re so grateful the community embraces Red Barn students.”

Valdez said 15 students helped plant the trees. “They worked so hard. There was so much energy it was inspiring. They’re so committed to giving back. It was a great service project for our students.” λ