Herbs' Homegrown album, produced with Walsh, released in September 1990

Herbs, based in Auckland, released What's Be Happen?, the first reggae album in the country, in 1980. The group was formed in the mid-1970s in Auckland, and in 1979 changed its name from Backyard to Herbs after watching Bob Marley's concert at Western Springs in Auckland.

Walsh was approached to produce Herbs' fifth studio album, Homegrown, which was released in September 1990. Walsh announced that he would move to New Zealand to become a permanent member of Herbs and to work on the album. Walsh first met Herbs while on The Party Boys tour, which was a long-running Australian supergroup.

Homegrown included three songs written with Walsh: Ordinary Average Guys, Up All Night and It's Alright. Walsh sang lead vocals on Up All Night and It's Alright, and all three songs later appeared on Walsh's solo albums. The album also included a cover of Walk Away Renée, the 1966 hit by New York baroque pop group the Left Banke, and a cover of The Way I Am, a hit by country artist Merle Haggard.

Walsh shared the stage with Herbs at Greenpeace concerts in Wellington and Auckland. In 1989, during a tour break, Walsh and Herbs visited Ōtātara Pā.