When we think of gardens, we don't tend to think of men, since surveys show that gardening is the most important leisure time activity of women.

But this hasn't always been so. A generation ago, most men with families were involved in gardening, with dad spending time in his vege patch down the back of the section, and mum taking responsibility for the flowers out front. Men took real pride in putting fresh produce on the table, and everyone looked forward to dad's big crop of new potatoes at Christmas time.

Something has happened to that image in the last 20 years, however. Judging from the customers we get to Pacifica, men are still growing veges, but for some reason the idea of gardening as a man's activity fell off the media radar.

Maybe it just wasn't seen as being sufficiently ‘macho', although there are actually good keen rugby types who like to get stuck in. For instance, Andy Ellis, the Canterbury halfback, has designed award-winning gardens at the Ellerslie Flower Show based around the theme of a bloke's vege garden.

What I've noticed recently, however, is that a change is in the wind, and young fathers in particular are starting to show a real interest in food gardens. Part of the reason may be the success of TV programmes by the likes of Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Part of it may be the ancient attraction of the soil. Even if you've got a small suburban section you can do some amazing things fruit and veg-wise in the backyard.

And part of it, I'm sure, is the fact that men these days are doing a lot more of the cooking. They often like to experiment, cooking ethnic dishes and giving the wok a good workout. And along with adventurous cooking goes fresh veg, and especially fresh herbs, straight from the garden.

Because of course it's a lot easier doing some cooking experiments when you can just step out back for ingredients, rather than having to make a list and a special trip to the foodstore.

We've also noticed here at Pacifica how Fathers' Day has become a real event with our café always full with families. That being the case, picking out some early-season vege punnets with dad, and then helping him plant them, can be a really fun activity. And of course, dads always love tools, so getting him a rake or a shovel can be a very useful gift.

My very own bloke has gone through lots of gardening tools over the years, and so he appreciates good quality that really lasts. He's especially keen on the retractable stainless steel leaf rakes we use here at Pacifica, which he says are infinitely better than the plastic ones that wear out almost as quick as you look at them.

He also enjoys using the Niwashi, a multi-purpose weeder/cultivator that has been used by Japanese farmers for centuries. Once again, these tools are really well-built and keep their sharpness. He reckons they're the samurai sword of gardening!