Kerikeri roofer turns work carpark into vegetable garden for community

Rick Harper and Tracy Moore, from Roof Bay of Islands, are growing vegetables for Monika Welch (right), who helps struggling families. Photo / Jenny Ling

A Northland tradie known for his building and roofing skills has turned his company’s carpark into a thriving vegetable garden to feed his staff and the wider community.

Rick Harper, one of the directors at Roof Bay of Islands, has created dozens of planter boxes around the edge of the Kerikeri carpark and filled them with an abundance of vegetables.

Harper said the aim was to get his 15 staff – “the ones that eat vegetables” – to eat a little healthier.

He is also growing the fresh produce for local legend Monika Welch, a kind-hearted artist who provides food for struggling families through her charity Finkk (Families in Need Kerikeri).

“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.”

Kerikeri roofer Rick Harper is more than happy to help the community by growing vegetables in his company’s carpark. Photo / Jenny Ling

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.

Monika Welch was pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount of vegetables being grown in the Roof Bay of Islands carpark. Photo / Jenny Ling

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.