It's a passion for healthy food and a healthy environment that drives Rachel Doble's business, Glowing Organics.
For about a year she's been delivering boxes of organic fruit and vegetables to up to 20 regular customers all over Wanganui.
The contents depend on what's in season, and include Fair Trade bananas from
Samoa, free range eggs from a Turakina farm and sometimes blueberries and her own Honey Struck brand of honey. The usual cost is $30 each week.
All the fruit and vegetables are from certified organic growers, with the main local supply being from David Aislabie's Kai Iwi farm.
"Being certified is really important to me. [Growers] can't sell as certified without being carefully checked," she said.
She likes the idea that organic growing is easier on the environment and that her family and customers get to eat healthy food.
"It's just such a positive job to do."
Miss Doble has been surprised at the mix of customers, young and old, single mothers to doctors, and in every suburb.
Based in the same shed behind her and partner Warren Brown's Fox Rd house is the headquarters for their Honey Struck business. In summer two part-time staff manage their 100 hives, which are spread from Wanganui to Waverley, inland from SH3.
Miss Doble processes the honey from the hives. It ranges from clover honey to bush and rewarewa versions, and most is sold to honey buyers and on into the wider market.
Miss Doble and Mr Brown both went to school in Wanganui.
Until recently he was principal of the primary school at Mokau, in North Taranaki. The two returned to Wanganui, with their two daughters, about a year ago.
The businesses are now set up so that Miss Doble can run them from home. Mr Brown is moving back into teaching - with roles at Whangaehu and Upokongaro schools.
