This week, we visited St Laurence's Catholic Church for the first time. What a day for it, too! Because of the >35°C heat, we cancelled the run element and met at the task under our own steam - which turned out to be bikes all round! 🚲

The team this evening comprised Alan, Catherine, me and the returning Izzy. Welcome back! 🙌

Our task began with a few moments of serenity, enjoying the shady garden. It was lovely to take a pause and unwind after a busy day! The green-fingered Alan keenly set about identifying various plants using a cool app, and was one step ahead when we received our instructions 🔎

Today, we were to pot on various small plants to help them reach their full potential, and hopefully produce bountiful crops to be shared amongst the community. Alan made light work of turning the soil while Catherine, Izzy and I transferred some peppers to planters. We then made a highly efficient and somewhat organised production line (dig! water! potting mix! plant! cwtch! water!) to plant the aubergines and tomatoes into the freshly prepared ground 🌶🍆🍅

We hope these little plants handled the move and grow big and strong to yield fruitful crops! 🌱🪴🌳

An evening of firsts for GoodGym Cambridge.

Firstly, a new task, joining Coton Loves Pollinators at their pollinator patch allotment site.

We welcomed Izzy and John to their first GoodGym session 👋 (Spoiler alert: It was a great one!)

In another first for us, we met to cycle to the task. Surprising considering we live in the city of cycling! We enjoyed a beautiful route (including the new cycle street) out West of Cambridge through the countryside.

As we got into Coton, a fantastic personalised sign greeted us and led the way to the site. We met the brilliant Bridget who showed us down to the allotment to meet the rest of the group, who had already been busy getting the polytunnel frame up!

John and Izzy used their height advantage to help with the polytunnel cover. In just 20 minutes the polythene was on and held taught by Izzy's very satisfying wire work. Eventually, the tunnel will be covered in transparent photovoltaic panels, generating electricity from UV, whilst allowing visible light though to grow plants. Very clever ☀️

The rest of the group got started on planting in a new patch, extending the growing space. As we were breaking new ground, gadget expert Anna, let us use an earth auger to drill the holes for the plants. Naturally, we all wanted a go...the ease, the power! Sandra and Alice led the drilling and Ilse took the lead with planting. Going in were beans and sunflowers, a companion planting dream, with the sunflowers providing a growth surface for the bean vines and the beans fixing nitrogen in the soil for nutrition. Win,win. 🌻🫛

With yet another fun tool, Anna gave us a plant taping machine (definitely not a label maker) to attach the stems to the support pole for the early growth stages. Once we'd got the hang of it, it was another very satisfying job.

With 40 plants in the ground and the main polytunnel up, we paused to admire the beauty of the pollinator patch, and just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better, Bridget arrived with scones and tea! All homemade and warm from the oven, what a treat. We couldn't ask for better way to enjoy the end of a beautiful evening 💛