Today’s mission was for the polytunnel of PNK Garden. Victoria, Sophia, Alex, Loretta, Jeff and I went to PNK Garden to help build the polytunnel. Hosting us was Lara, founder of PNK Garden, and Lindsay who had instructions and the know- how called the shots.

The garden was full of warm volunteers today, we took out the tools and materials and began to distribute work. Loretta and Jeff started to measure the scale of gardening stuff, to make sure all of them can be settled in the polytunnel. Alex and Lara worked together to assemble timbers to make the door of the polytunnel. Victoria, Sophia and I continued to work on the frame of the polytunnel. With the help of 2 PNK Volunteers, we assembled sections together and screwed all these parts.

The sun came out after a while, two kind neighbours came here and brought us some tasty homemade muffins. PNK volunteer also prepared two packs of croissants for us. By then, Victoria, Sophia, Alex and I were so invested that we decided to stay a bit longer to see the frame to its finish. It was totally worth it! We helped pack up all the parts and tools and finished today’s task in the spring sunshine. We left laded with delicious gifts talking of recipes for salad and soup.

Welcome to Alex, Loretta and Jaff on their first mission.

Thanks all the lovely volunteers for bringing some rays of sunshine today.

This rainy morning, Laura, Tori, Sophia and I went to PNK Garden to help build a polytunnel. Hosting us was Lara, founder of PNK Garden, but calling the shots was Lindsay, who had the instructions and the know-how. 👷

We started cautiously, counting through all the pieces and grouping them into sets of pieces that would go together, and then assembling sections together. Another PNK volunteer, Chris arrived just in time, to screw all the parts that we had assembled together, using a power drill.

Once the four "loops" of the polytunnel were up, we could start to see how everything fit together and we worked together to get rest of the frame up. This sometimes involved undoing parts and redoing them, as we learned how the frame was supposed to hold together. We were interrupted twice by well-meaning neighbours who had opinions about how to do it! By then, Tori, Sophia and I were so invested that we decided to stay a bit longer to see the frame to its finish. It was totally worth it; see the end product in the photos!

Sam, Emma and I went to PNK community garden yesterday morning to help out. PNK had recently received many tonne bags full of woodchip, but before they could be put on the ground, we needed to do some weeding first. Also there was Harrison, who is a regular volunteer of PNK.

We organised ourselves into a system of different tasks: weeding, filling up wheelbarrows of woodchip, and laying the woodchip down.

The woodchip itself contained many surprises - mushrooms, which we composted, and also some non-compostable surprises, like a glove and a spanner!

An elite cell of three GoodGymmers helped PNK garden clear up after a couple of recent storms. With the forecast still grim we grouped plants together and wedged them in with heavy pots, ahead of further blustery days. We also grouped materials together for making and planting beds. Literally beds, as Laura and Emma discovered. Stripped divan bed bases make great frames to line and full with soil and plants. We look forward to seeing the progress at this exciting new community garden and allotment. With a fair wind…

Today, Sam and Paulin went to PNK Garden to help out on their re-opening day. We dug some holes, which will be used for sinking fence posts in when the fence goes up soon. It was tough work because there was some concrete, but we managed three super-deep holes! 🙌

Sam rushed off for his next mission, whilst Paulin took a break and had coffee with some other volunteers before heading home with some spring onions, a nice end to a sweaty task!

2 GG runners completed shuttle runs with wheelbarrows, pot plants, miniature trees and soil to transport a very generous donation from a local resident to the community garden.