A budding neighbourhood garden in Tauranga that aims to create sustainable food sources for its volunteers and neighbours has just started to take root.

The garden sits on 8000sq m of private land on Darraghs Rd in Ōtūmoetai and belongs to Steve Nicholson, garden organiser Jeanette Daysh said.

“It’s not a public community garden.”

When SunLive visited the Ōtūmoetai property, a handful of neighbours had turned soil or planted carrot seeds, but with winter around the corner, Daysh said the garden would “settle down” a bit.

“Then come the springtime, we’ll be full on again.”

Jeanette Daysh and Steve Nicholson, get stuck into planting at the street garden.

Daysh said the garden was weekend work, but the team would move into fortnightly work.

Student volunteer army member from Ōtūmoetai College, Olivia Hubbard, said the project caught her attention because she wanted to help people in her community.

“It is a good opportunity.”

Olivia’s mother, Sarah Hubbard, also volunteered at the Darragh St Garden and wanted to support the social supermarket, she said.

Seeds ready to sow.

Eventually, the garden would have fruit trees, vegetables, and a sensory garden, but the project was still in its infancy, only getting under way in March.

Daysh said when they had more food produced, they would be able to help more people in the street who needed it.

Any excess food will go to the Otumoetai Social Supermarket, run by John and Jackie Paine, Daysh said.

The Ōtūmoetai Social Supermarket, launched in November 2022 by the Linkt Community Trust and the Ōtūmoetai Baptist Church, offered affordable food and connected shoppers with support services, such as social workers and financial mentor referrals, to promote long-term food security and self-sufficiency.

Landowner Nicholson became involved in the project after he was introduced to the Paines and wanted to use his land to help combat food insecurity, he said.

Only about 3000sq m of his 8000sq m is usable with the rest being swampland, Nicholson said.

“We had people wanting to drop off five or six beehives, but there is not enough room at the moment.”

The garden’s voluntary nature also allowed Nicholson to form more of a community with his neighbours, none of whom knew each other before the project began, he said.

“I understand the need to connect with people.”

Nicholson said the garden was not for everyone to come and help themselves, and access was limited to volunteers.

“We’ve got extra produce, then we could put something out on the street.”

Members of Darraghs Rd can volunteer for the project by contacting [email protected].

It’s not essential to have a green thumb or gardening background to volunteer; you need a willingness to roll up your sleeves and some patience, he said.