As this relentless dry spell continues, a team of nine GoodGymers showed up to help keep Olden Community Garden's plants hydrated and alive. Numbers had looked a bit low at first - but once it was confirmed we'd be lifting watering cans, not yet more railway sleepers, sign-ups more than doubled! I wonder which task people prefer?

Taking turns filling watering cans and circulating the 2-acre site, we prioritised the most vulnerable young plants, the pots, and all the vegetables, and smashed through the task in record time. It was particularly rewarding to see the fully constructed, impressive stage - built using the very sleepers we'd hauled across the garden on a run earlier this summer.

Huge thanks to Charles for hosting us (and instructing us so well!), and to everyone who turned out despite the heat.

See you next week? I suspect there might be some more watering on the cards...

On a warm Monday evening, 13 keen Goodgymmers arrived at the idyllic Olden Community Gardens, just opposite Drayton Park station. This beautiful spot is could be easily missed when walking by Arsenal Stadium, but there are hidden allotments, butterfly gardens and neighbourhood connections built on an area that was dedicated for gathering WW2 debris in the past!

More information about Olden Community Gardens can be found here: https://www.oldengarden.org/

Welcome to first time Goodgymmer Lisa - Thank you for joining us!

We had a variety of tasks on offer for us, stretching between the main garden entrance, past many fox dens, and over to "the bridge gardens" (which expand over a working railway bridge for National Rail services).

- Task 1

Together, we helped to shovel 2 full builder's merchant bags of mixed compost from the main entrance (the only vehicle drop point for gardening material), over to a more convenient location. At least 6 of our crew filled portable tubs of compost, before carrying this material by hand. By the end of the session, we came together to lift the final bag of mulch safely and carefully to the intended spot. Great job all!

- Task 2

Our team helped with preparing the gardens for the potential heat wave next week! We located all of the available water points for hose pipes and watering cans, and set about dousing as many of the plants and saplings as possible. This was a difficult task, as Olden Community Gardens is set on a hillside, and we needed to stretch the hose pipes around awkward corners and down slopes to effectively cover as many beds as possible. Between us, we did a smashing job within an hour of problem solving and teamwork!

Following our session, we enjoyed a trip to the Highbury Library bar and bottle shop to celebrate former Area Activator Simon's 800th good deed! A great way to close up a quality evening of Goodgymming- well done all!

On Monday night three committed GoodGymers (including newcomer Emma - welcome!) wrapped up the sweltering bank holiday with a not-so-light task at Olden Community Gardens.

We perhaps weren't quite the crew Charles might have imagined for the job (where were all the men!?) - but the three of us weren't about to let a little heavy lifting (or a heatwave) get in our way.

Together (with a little help from a wailing wheelbarrow), we managed to lug not one but four hefty sleepers* down the steep steps to the bottom of the garden, ready to form the stage at their annual music festival on Sunday 7th June.

You can now sign up to volunteer at the music festival here. :)

• Google tells me they're c. 90kg each!

Last night's task was a true workout, carrying sleeper after sleeper down to the bottom of the garden, ready to be used to construct a stage for the annual Olden Community Garden music festival.

It took 6 GoodGymer's to lift and lug each sleeper, and a lot of good communication and coordination to avoid any disastrous injuries. We didn't quite fulfill Charles' high ambition of relocating the entire pile, but after shifting 9 sleepers, I think it's fair to say we'd all had a good work out and felt pretty pleased with ourselves. I can certainly feel it in my arms today!

Great work to Jennifer for getting stuck in on her first session (welcome!). Aside from some seeing many faithful GG Islington regulars, it was great to meet Denzel from GG HQ, and Ernestas, local coucillor and long-time GG-er.

See you at Finsbury Park next week!?

Tonight kicked off with me leading my first GoodGym run, kindly assessed by Steph Ducat - while I'm happy to say I got everyone there in one happy piece, I'm a bit ashamed by the short length of it...! Next time, I'm gonna train you harder!

We then returned to the scene of Saturday's pesto-making , continuing on the mission to rid Olden Community Garden of the pesky invasive species: Three Cornered Leek.

Digging the plants out of the rocky, steeply sloped banks of the orchard - carefully ensuring that all the bulbs are lifted from the ground - made for tricky work in the dark, but satisfying too. Once dug, another team carefully separated the leaves from the roots, so that Islington council can safely dispose of the stubborn little bulbs.

We all went home with a bag of Three Cornered Leek leaves, ready for some pesto making back at home. Perhaps we should host a taste-test next Monday?!

3 GoodGymers joined volunteers from Olden Community Garden yesterday in their mission to clear the orchard of a pesky invasive species - the dreaded (but very tasty) Three Cornered Leek.

Olden Community Garden is a 2 acre haven nested by the railtracks next to the Emirates Stadium.

The ground around their sunny orchard is covered in this invasive plant, spreading thickly across the ground like, well, a weed, smothering any other life that tries to grow there.

So on Saturday a group - including none other than GoodGym fan and actor Rob Delaney - gathered to convert this pesky weed into tasty pesto. It was a full team effort, with a production line consisting of:

The Weeders: digging up the Three Cornered Leeks with forks and trowels, separating their bulbs into one bucket, their leaves and flowers into another. The Washers: washing the leaves in buckets of icy cold water, separating any stray twigs, roots, or other leaves. The Dryers: drying the leaves out in a salad spinner, and doing one final sift for stray or dead leaves. The Sous-Chefs: blending up the leaves with parmesan, walnuts, olive oil, and seasoning to make a delicious pesto. The Chefs: cooking up hearty bowls of gnocci and slices of chunky Dusty Knuckle bread to be served with our fresh-from-field pesto.

No GoodGymer went hungry. We all got to take home a jar of pesto at the end of the day, and a bag of leaves to make some more. The Three Cornered Leek bulbs will be collected by Islington Council as it's an offence to knowingly let them out into the wild.

The community spirit was bubbling over, with all generations mucking in together. But despite a huge team effort, there is still so much more ground to clear. So we'll be returning for a group run on Monday evening - do join us!