Seedlings stolen from Levin mental health service

Vegetable seedlings have been stolen from a Mental Health and Addiction service based in Levin.

Seedlings have been stolen from a Levin vegetable gardening project aimed at soothing those with mental health struggles.

The seedlings were first donated to Palmerston North's Mana o te Tangata trust by Awapuni Nurseries to be given away as part of a mental health awareness week.

Those plants were for people who want to learn how to grow their own vegetables and hopefully take those skills home and start their own garden.

Leilani Marakuara

A group of Mana o te Tangata clients from Levin drove to Palmerston North and received 20 of the seedlings to plant and nurtureback at their Horowhenua garden but these were stolen last week.

Manager/manukura Leilani Maraku said that nurturing nature is a key part of health and wellbeing.

"Being in the garden is therapeutic for mental health," she said.

Maraku said it was very upsetting to hear the centre had been broken into and the plants taken.

"However, we started thinking about how we can support the Levin garden project and are being proactive in trying to do that."

To steal the plants, the gate of the service's Queen St premises was broken.

Maraku said the process of planting, growing and then cooking with the vegetables was the aim of the project, to inspire health and wellbeing.

"Those plants were for people who want to learn how to grow their own vegetables and hopefully take those skills home and start their own garden," she said.

Donated seedlings could be dropped at the Levin office of Mana o te Tangata trust at 534 Queen St, between the opening hours of 10.30am-2.30pm.

Are you okay?

Depression is common, curable and treatment, and support is available.
For support or someone to talk to, phone the Depression Helpline 24/7 on 0800 111 757, Free text: 4202 or visit www.depression.org.nz

Mana o te Tangata trust provides many services, some of which include, a gym to get active, on hour per day of free internet from its computer suite to learn the basics, write your CV or catch up with friends on social media.

The trust also has support groups for issues including anxiety, addiction and self-care. groups.