Plans for a sustainable orchard in Pukete are coming to fruition following a memorandum of understanding with Hamilton City Council.
Pukete Neighbourhood House manager Jane Wood made contact with the council in February last year to ask for use of the block of land that sits off to the side of the community house in Ashurst Park.
The council gave the organisation the go-ahead in December and with the help of the community and local volunteer group Streetworks, planting will commence next month.
"The cogs turn slowly but they do turn," said Ms Wood.
The idea of a sustainable orchard came from the various programmes the community house hosts including holiday and after school care.
"I'd had a few inquiries about having a community garden but I've decided to go with a community orchard/garden because here in our community house we use a lot of fruit, up to around $200 worth a week," said Ms Wood.
"We run very big programmes and the kids have fresh fruit every day, so this is an opportunity for us to make ourselves a little bit more sustainable."
The 2000sq m plot of land will be planted with feijoa, pear, apple and mandarin trees and Ms Wood said there are plans to build up a vegetable garden over the next few years with the help of the community.
"With the help of Te Rapa Rotary and Z Pukete we have got some funds and I've had a few people from the local community offer to help out which is really good. One of our after-school care parents works at Wairere Nursery and helps make sure we get the right varieties ... the mandarins without pips, easy peel etc."
Dulux has donated paint and Ms Wood said she has been given some wooden pallets which children on the holiday programme will turn into signs and seating for the garden.
"We have quite a few people that come and sit in the car park and eat their lunch, or sit on the slopes in the park, so [the garden] could be a nice spot."
Along with the various children's programmes that operate from the neighbourhood house there is also a vegetable co-op with any excess being spread between this and the local food banks .
"I've also been alerted that people may come in and just take things, but those people need it, and we're a community group so we understand."