It was GG Barking and Dagenham's first visit to the White House (and thankfully, not a fake tan in sight).

First to arrive was Future Leader, Mason, shortly followed by Imran and Martynas, who were back for their second tasks, and lastly Lukas, all the way from Essex. What a team! 💪

Task partner, Michaela, showed us around the garden and to the pond area that needed clearing ready for a children's art workshop happening next week. The lilies were stunning, but the surrounding area was overrun by weeds and nettles. 🪾

Loving nothing better than a challenge, we immediately spread to make a star-t on the weeding ⭐

There were some precarious weeding positions on the edge of the pond, but thankfully / disappointingly we all left with dry feet 😅

We'd soon filled buckets of green waste and on taking them to the compost heap, we uncovered a wasps nest! Very much not on the agenda for the evening and they were not happy (a close zoom on the photo shows them all abuzz). We swiftly created a new compost heap at a safe distance. The garden was creepy crawling with life - as well as wasps, we came across a huge number of snails and firebugs. We'd never seen so many in one place 🐞

Within 45 minutes the area was transformed! Weed cleared around the pond and the growing beds, and under the fruit trees. As the session came to an end, we were left pond-ering when we'll be back again. 🤔

After taking a few pictures, which channelled 90s boy band, we made plans for next week's task. All agreed to meet for a jog around the park beforehand. It's written so now it must happen!

There was just enough time to exchange handstand press-up tips before heading our separate ways, buzzing for next week already! 🐝

Draft

draft

📅 On Monday we headed over to AbPhab where the young people will be creating and adding a mural to the wall on Wednesday using artwork they have produced. We're there giving Kelly and Sarah a hand to make the area as accessible and ready for Wednesday 🎨

⚙️ After a long day of life admin, logistics and the one or two dreaded spreadsheets, the change of pace, the time outdoors, the fresh air and picking, pulling, lifting were welcomed and much needed ✨

👩🏻‍💻 It's easy to get caught up on the schedules, behind a desk, on our never ending to-do lists. This one hour amongst friends, community folks, was healing and restorative 🫶🏼

𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋 Here's to time spent in community, together 𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋

💓💓💓

🌱 Another Sunday afternoon spent at Gale Street Organic Community Garden. How lucky are we?!

👋🏽 Whether its a handful of us or a rowdy bunch, we always come up exhausted from the good work and rocking big smiles in our faces and hearts ❤️‍🔥

🚮 A bit of litter picking
🧅 A lot of planted onions 💦 A lot of love and a bit of water for the seedlings

We are caring for the soil, the place, our body, and mind. We are building community here.

“Doing a creative activity in a group like this is well out of my comfort zone – but you know what? I’m loving it”

Move over Monet! Make way for the GoodGym Art Collective!

Tuesday’s session at AbPhab Youth Club garden was a little different for us.

We swapped barrows for brushes and pick axes for paint as we decorated the new tire planters ready to receive their new plants

Usually full of lots of chat and laughing, this session was much quieter as we enjoyed some peace and quiet together, each focussing on our painting.

The warm evening sun and gentle breeze created the perfect setting for our alfresco creative session.

All agreed the sessions was VERY relaxing and we can’t wait to come back and finish the rest of the tires