From left, William Dickey, Carol Landis, Linda Reichart and Denny Offstein pick broccoli July 2 in the Community Health Clinic of Butler County's community garden. This year, the clinic planted a garden as a way to educate patients, especially those who are diabetic, on how to eat healthy and fresh during the summer.

SUMMIT TWP — The staff, volunteers and patients at the Community Health Clinic of Butler County have been using their collective green thumb during the past month to highlight healthy, budget-minded eating.

Now, they are starting to see the fruits of their labor — both literally and figuratively — as the small community garden they have been tending to starts to flourish.

Staff members in early June planted tomatoes, melons, broccoli, peppers, zucchini and cabbage in eight makeshift planters assembled from used tires and placed them on a small patch of ground next to the building.

The goal of the project, according to Cece Foster, clinic executive director, is to use it as a tool to better educate patients about how they can grow their own fresh, healthy food during the summer, even if they have little funds and a limited amount of space at home.

She and other staff and volunteers have been showcasing the garden to all patients, but of special concern are those who have diabetes or who are prediabetic, she said.

“I really want to drive home the point that you can have fresh, non-processed produce for an entire summer for a $20 investment,” she said.

Foster, who came up with the idea when she was thinking of ways the clinic could serve its patients, bought the plants, and Butler businessman Denny Offstein, owner of Denny Offstein Auto Sales & Used Parts, donated the soil and tires.

Offstein said he is happy to help because he enjoys seeing “how a simple idea does something positive.”

Linda Reichart, the clinic's registered diabetic nurse educator, is one of the people who has been using the garden to help patients eat healthier.

She recalled giving some produce from her own garden to a patient who then was inspired to plant a garden of her own.

Carol Landis, a dietitian who volunteers at the clinic, also has been explaining the gardening process to patients and said the experience has gotten her thinking of starting her own garden at home.

“I'm not a farm-type person,” she said. “So I'm really impressed.”

“Everybody's watching it,” she said. “I think it will help them realize they can do it.”

The clinic is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides free primary health and dental care to people who do not have health insurance.