Deb McCarthy's youngest grandson grew up eating the fruit and vegetables from the Merivale Community Garden.
"He even calls it Nanny's garden," she laughs.
There's everything from kale and feijoas to herbs and stone fruit, produce that has been filling the stomachs of locals for almost six years now.
But this fresh produce doesn't grow by itself. A team of passionate locals put hours into the upkeep of the gardens and ensure there is enough money to keep them running.
McCarthy started the project in May 2012 and can still be found at the gardens every week.
"I needed to know how to garden and wanted to learn the skills to keep a garden going."
She said interest and support in the gardens had increased over the years but she was always looking for fresh ideas and new people to help out.
The volunteers who keep the Merivale Community Garden running. Photo/ George Novak
Funding was an ongoing effort as the gardens ran off the "smell of an oily rag", but through many sausage sizzles and donations from local community groups, the gardens were still ticking along.
"Once you start a project you don't just walk away from it," McCarthy said.
She enjoyed seeing the community enjoying the gardens and groups who used the space to teach others the art of gardening such as a local kindergarten.
"The gardens are here in Merivale, but they are for anyone who needs any produce," she said.
The Merivale Community Gardens is somewhat of a community hub. It's a Friday when the Bay of Plenty Times visits, the day food was placed into the wooden shelves at the front of the gardens.
The food was donated by Good Neighbour and anyone who needs it can help themselves.
Men and woman of all ages turn up and grab necessities like loaves of bread and vegetables.
Nick Scullion was there to chat to everyone collecting food, he knows them well after helping at the gardens for the past four and a half years.
Nick Scullion has helped at the gardens for the last four and a half years. Photo/ George Novak
The 54-year-old is one of the people keeping the gardens going. The reason he does it?
"For the love, the aroha of other people," he said.
Every Friday and Sunday, Scullion could be found at the gardens, on Mondays, he would be at Merivale School helping to prepare a weekly meal for the community - anywhere between 50 to 150 attend the meal.
