Nestled into the middle of Invercargill is a green oasis of calm.

Aside from the muffled conversations that float past on the breeze, the only other sound is the birdsong from the surrounding trees.

This is Bainfield Organic Gardens.

The gardens are run by the Invercargill Christian Centre, which has a contract with the Southern District Health Board to provide rehabilitative mental health services.

All of the 22 people (they are called consumers at the gardens) that work at the gardens have some form of mental health issue.

Working at the gardens is an important step to help consumers get back in to the workforce, manager Karen Kirk says.

''To get out of bed, to be responsible, to come to work. And then to work with people, that dynamic of getting along with other people.''

Consumers do everything from raising seedlings through to mowing the grass that surrounds the gardens.

Some say that getting their hands into the rich soil is therapeutic, while for others it provides a valuable opportunity to learn more about growing and preparing vegetables.

While the vegetables grown at the gardens are sold through the Christian Centre, the consumers are also encouraged to take some home with them.

''The feedback is that they are growing them at home.'' Karen says.

There are also plans being worked on to supply the Southland Foodbank using any surplus vegetables.

This year among the vegetables being grown are potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, onions, rhubarb, radishes, and broad beans.

Land for the gardens is owned by the Invercargill City Council’s Parks and Reserves, and leased to the centre for a ''peppercorn rental''.

The Christian Centre also operates a similar vegetable garden in Gore, on land provided by the Hokonui Runanga.

They also break up and recycle pallets into kindling which helps contribute to another skill for the consumers.

The gardens have been operating in Invercargill for about 14 years, and in that time have made a big impact in the lives of the people who have worked there, Karen says.

''When people start coming here they can be very introverted. People that are ill can be inclined to just lock themselves away.''

However, after working with the rest of the group, seeing what they can achieve, and feeling proud of their efforts, consumers start coming out of their shells, Karen says.

''We see it as a family environment. It’s about building good relationships.''

For gardens day manager Chris Low, seeing families learning about and consuming fresh produce that they’ve grown themselves, is one of the huge markers of success at the site.

''It’s really important that families learn to grow vegetables at home.''

Healthy Families Invercargill have been working with the team at the gardens to link them with other organisations in Invercargill, and as a result, the gardens will supply excess produce to the Southland Foodbank.

Healthy Families Invercargill manager Jared Cappie said working as a conduit to help organisations work together was a key role of Healthy Families Invercargill and it was great to see that work coming to fruition.

''Connecting organisations and helping them to create healthy, sustainable change within the community is key to addressing some of the significant health issues being faced in the south. Work such as that being done by Bainfield Organic Gardens, is a prime example of what can be achieved when people work together.''

Photo: Manager Karen Kirk takes a look at some of the plants in the tunnel house at the Bainfield Organic Gardens.