Caring Jennie Street has turned her love of growing veg into a cure for the depressed and anxious.

She knew from 40 years of experience that work outdoors helps banish the blues by raising serotonin levels.

So in 2011 she created a project to coax people with a fear of going outside and other anxiety disorders to grow produce.

Now Rhubarb Farm in Langwith, Derbys, has helped more than 200 volunteers.

Begun on two acres of ex-allotment land, it grows 52 varieties of fruit and veg that are sold in the weekly veg bag scheme to a regular customer base, with surplus sold to local shops, pubs and restaurants..

Volunteers range from those with mental and physical ill­-health to former addicts and ex-offenders.

After securing £239,961 from the Big Lottery Fund in 2012 Jennie started the farm’s Buddies project.

She explains: “Often people with long term mental health issues need a lot of support to make progress.

"We needed people to encourage them to come through the gate.”

One of the farm’s biggest successes is Sam, 23, who has overcome agoraphobia to take a key role.

Her job has been made possible through the Lottery-funded Talent Match scheme.

Sam used to be terrified of working in groups.

Jennie said: “Eighteen months later she has totally changed.”

The Lottery grant has also enabled Rhubarb Farm to employ other staff.

With qualified trainers and assessors it now offers volunteers a LANTRA qualification in horticulture.

And Jennie would like to keep branching out. She is looking into new ways to make income to fund the farm’s other enterprises.

She says: “If you look forward with a can­-do attitude it’s amazing what you can achieve.”

CALL TO ACTION:

£150m is now set to support community-led enterprises

Times are tough but we know many communities like Langwith are working hard to make where they live better.

That's why Trinity Mirror is backing the Big Lottery Fund Power to Change scheme which will use funds raised by National Lottery players to support community enterprises in England.

Together we are throwing the spotlight on communities that are already coming together to make a difference.

Do you have a great idea for a community enterprise? Why not capture it on film and enter a competition to win £1,000!

Visit http://locality.org.uk/film-comp/ to find out more. The competition closes on 30 September.

The Power to Change Trust expects to open its doors in the coming months. Ahead of this, expert support is available to community enterprises. Visit http://locality.org.uk/powertochange  and follow @localitynews for details.

For more information on Power to Change, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/powertochange

Follow @BiglfCommunity and join the discussion by using #powertochange