Plot thickens | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Teachers at a Mangere vege garden are so passionate about their job they've bent the rules, Kieran Nash hears.

Behind an old school hall in Mangere, surrounded by dozens of types of plants, Yvonne Thomas crushes lemon basil between her thumb and forefinger. The air explodes with scent.

Ms Thomas is in the "teaching garden" where she shows Aucklanders the benefits of healthy eating and cooking; even if it means ignoring council policy to bring in structures to enhance the garden.

"We think it's important to teach people how to live better and healthier. We're in it because we love what we do."

The garden is a massive section of 15 allotted 100sq m plots - the largest of six Manukau City Council-sanctioned projects - where students learn how to get a garden going at their homes.

Ms Thomas and Mona Nimmo have been employed by Manukau City Council for five hours a week for just over a year. Plots are being dug for the next planting, except for the herb garden - the "jewel in the crown" - as she calls it.

The herb garden is allowed to stay, despite having "permanent structures" - tyres, planter boxes and boulders to sit on - something the council says is not permitted.

"We weren't supposed to put in something that was structural, but this is an important place for everyone to have."

Manukau City Council policy does not allow permanent structures in its gardens.

Its parks and recreation manager Robert Findlay says some really great people are employed to work at the teaching gardens.

But he doesn't approve of running roughshod over council policy.

"They're really passionate. So much so that they break the rules sometimes."

Although the herb garden is not allowed, he says it will stay.

"It distinctly says structures aren't permitted. It's quite illegal. It's an anomaly but we won't be taking out the herb garden."

He says Ms Thomas and Ms Nimmo have been warned. "They shouldn't have been able to put that in. If they do it again then they won't be employed again."

Mr Findlay says if one garden starts adding permanent fixtures then the five other council-sanctioned gardens may, too, and there can be a large cost to removing structures.

Despite this difference of opinion, all agree the gardens have been roaring successes.

Manukau City Council park ranger Varsha Belwakar visits the garden to show people in the community how to prepare and cook vegetables. She says it is especially valuable to new migrants, who are often unfamiliar with New Zealand's produce.

"It's not a community garden but about bringing the community together and teaching them how to use it. The plot has more of an education purpose."

One such recipient is Mohammed Taher, a former paediatrician from Bangladesh. He has lived in New Zealand for five years.

"We enjoy it and come every day weeding. It's very tasty and good for health."

Does he think it's a good thing?

"Definitely, absolutely. We can refresh our minds and replant and reharvest and distribute the food and know everything, how it works."

Mona Nimmo, who the council also employs to maintain the garden, says many urban children have no clue about the benefits of eating from their own garden. "We're trying to get the knowledge into an urban community," she says.

Mr Findlay says the key idea is for students to go home and start their own gardens. He says 47 per cent of the first class's students have planted gardens in their own homes.

This is good news for Ms Thomas. "It has been hard work to a degree, but we don't get anything for nothing."

Garden guide

Yvonne Thomas says this time of year is ideal for planting green and red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, silverbeet, spinach, broad beans, Chinese cabbage and bok choy for the approaching colder months.

She says anyone with land can have a garden, even if it's solid clay.

"If you've got really hard soil, just build on top.

"Get some compost and away you go."

As for herbs, she says the best thing to do is "keep picking'em. The longer you leave them the more they'll go to seed."