Ronald McDonald House Auckland is a ‘home away from home’ for thousands of kiwi families who find themselves needing to travel to Auckland to receive specialist treatment for their sick child. In May this year, the 48 room House was further enriched with the opening of a Family Garden - the result of a project begun in 2009 by four students from Diocesan School for Girls and realized through the support of the community and local businesses, who all helped fundraised the $42,000 required to build the garden.

During a recent visit to the garden, landscape gardener Tony Murrell noticed that there were no edible plants for families to enjoy, something he was keen to help the House put right. Through Tony’s enthusiasm and the support of Tui Products and Incredible Edibles, last weekend it was. A group of enthusiastic over 10 volunteers was mustered together, including the four girls from Diocesan School for Girls who were responsible for the initial idea, some of their parents and the House’s resident volunteer gardener Jill Hutchison.

Under Tony’s guidance, eight different types of edible plants were planted, including a passion fruit vine, apple trees and berry plants using soil donated by Tui Products. Everyone mucked in so well that the job was finished in just over an hour! We are looking forward to seeing the results in a few months when spring has sprung and the plants really begin to bloom.