A Tipton woman who overcame years of depression and anxiety by rediscovering her passion for growing vegetables is now helping other Black Country women improve their mental health through a community allotment.
Jaswinder Kaur, a farmer's daughter who learned her skills from her father in India, runs the community allotment on Park Lane Estate in Tipton. The project is one of the activities in a pilot scheme to boost the area, backed by a £500,000 investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The scheme has also seen 35 homes in Tipton fitted with solar panels to cut energy bills and tackle fuel poverty. Other social and activity groups are held to help improve physical and mental health, as well as develop English language and digital skills.
From depression to a new purpose
Jaswinder, who also helps run Urja CIC based in Oldbury, said agriculture and farming is her passion. Growing up in India, she worked from the age of four and learned everything from her father. But when she moved to Handsworth, Birmingham, at 19, those opportunities were taken from her.
"I came to England in 1992 when I was 19. It was a big change – I moved to Handsworth. When I came, it was December, there was so much snow," she said. "The garden was just slabs. A big change for a farmer's girl. We used to wake up, the birds singing, the leaves making a noise. Nature is my life. I'm nothing without nature so it was a huge change for me."
In 2016, Jaswinder became upset and suffered anxiety and depression while handling things in life. Her GP asked her about her hobbies and what she liked. She said if she could have a small garden outside her house it would help her.
Rediscovering nature's healing power
Seven years ago, she started growing in an allotment in Oldbury. "It made a big transformation for me. I love to do it, I love plants, I talk to them, I do feel they are my family," she said. Seeing the changes in herself, she decided to set up a community allotment.
Now more than 150 ladies from different community centres come to visit and help. "They come, visit, they help me, they do feel happy. We are growing beautiful vegetables which sometimes we give to the temple, community centres, allowing to taste it organic," she said.
Jaswinder explained that as women, they have so much responsibility with children and families and in the community. "There is so much going on but because they live at home, they hardly get together and talk about personal issues. When they come out for a small time and connect with nature, it distracts from a painful life. It helps mental health, anxiety, loneliness, they come out and be with other people. It's a big difference."
Community project impact
She added that they spent two months working to clear the site of rubbish and weeds to enable them to create beds for people to plant in. More work is needed to complete the allotment.
The allotment is one of many social and activity groups having a positive impact on improving the physical and mental health of residents in Park Lane Estate, as well as developing their English language and digital skills. All activities have been funded by Mayor Richard Parker and led by the Bangladeshi Women's Association (BWA), based at Tipton Muslim Community Centre, with support from Sandwell Council.
