The idea originated in Japan, she says, and is very popular in the United States where people pay in advance to a grower and commit to buy their produce for a season.
"In New Zealand it tends to be pay as you go and people receive a box of vegetables each week. You do not choose what you get but you know you will get a nice variety of vegetables that are in season."
The arrangement works for the grower as well, says Roddy.
"For farmers it's difficult selling produce at farmers' markets - you are left with picked produce left over - whereas if you have families ordering regularly you don't get waste.
"It requires a commitment from both parties."
Setha, who originally hails from Pennsylvania, and Scottish-born Roddy say such an arrangement fits with their aim to support local.
"What we value most is starting small but building as we go," says Setha.
"We would love to have 20 families then see how we go.
"Our main focus at the moment is our seed company, but the two activities complement each other."
The seed company is Setha's Seeds, an enterprise that began as something of a hobby but, with enthusiasm and ongoing research into addressing the mineral, microbial and fungal needs of the soil, is starting to take off as the soil is key in growing healthy food and seed.
Setha and Roddy have launched a line of about 30 heritage vegetable and flower seeds, from courgettes to various tomato varieties, lettuce varieties, onions, cucumber, and Maori and European potatoes. Their main crop, garlic, is now sold commercially.
All produce is grown using bio-intensive gardening and permaculture principles, while remineralising the soils and generating high-quality seeds.
They sell the seeds and garlic at Otane Market and Waipawa Wholefoods, and online through Trade Me and Facebook.
"We are sticking to principles of mainly starting small, and trusting word of mouth and a good product to spread the word in terms of marketing.
"If we can sell the product to neighbours and the local town it's good for food miles and building relationships in the community," says Setha.
With more vegetables and fruit being grown to fit the commercial demands of retail outlets and transport, Setha's and Roddy's aim is to bring food back to how it should be.
"So many people have stopped gardening from seed and the seeds can't save themselves.
"It's become a lost art and we want to start adding to what we are doing, including running seed-saving workshops and education about growing, harvesting and storing seeds."
To find out more about Setha's Seeds see www.facebook.com/sethasseedsnz, email sethasseeds@outlook.com or
ph 021 238 8654.