“The idea is to support Monika and what she’s doing,” Harper said.

“If everyone does a little bit, it’ll create a ripple effect and to be able to provide vegetables for the community, that’s amazing.”

Harper said the idea came about after he caught up with a friend several years ago, a business owner in Matamata, who grew vegetables for his staff and local community.

Last year Harper decided to kick off his own project, starting with six planter boxes, which quickly expanded along the front of the building and down the driveway.

Currently, he is growing 10 varieties of potatoes, silverbeet, tomatoes, lettuce, bok choy, kūmara, carrots, kale and a variety of herbs.

The gardens are tended by Harper and Tracy Moore, whose job description also expanded from administration to horticulturist.

Welch is stoked with the concept, which will enable her to provide fresh food for the families and solo mums who come to her in need.

However, Welch thought Harper was planning on just a few vege gardens.

“It’s a huge amount of vegetable gardens lining the whole driveway,” she said.

“He said ‘I’ll grow whatever you want’.

“I love this idea; it’ll feed the people of the area.

“I’m tickled about the whole thing.”

It’s come at the right time too, because the local food bank closed in June, putting a strain on struggling families.

The closure of the Kerikeri-based Kairos Foodbank prompted another charity, the Bald Angels Charitable Trust, to call on the community to help vulnerable whānau as social service providers were stretched thin.

Several other businesses got on board to help Harper with materials for the planter boxes, including ColorCote, Dimond Roofing, Placemakers and Stronghold Fasteners.

Harper wants to challenge other businesses to grow vegetables to support their staff and communities.

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.