It’s bean lovely…

How long is a piece of string…?

(You’ll have to read to the end to find out)

Five of us headed over to Bath Organic Garden on the beautiful summery morning, for another lucky dip of gardening tasks.

Part 1

First up, something a little different. Our host Tim gave us a pile of long sticks and the task to “build a structure that won’t fall down” …

We may have looked a bit worried as he did eventually elaborate slightly. We had to build a framework for running canes along in order for growing runner beans.

We got the main superstructure up eventually. It didn’t fall down, and at time of writing still seems to be up to the task…

Jer helped Tim attach some cross-beams, whilst the others headed off to the pond area for the next task. We’ll return to the final part of the bean structure later, where your outstanding string-length questions will be finally answered…

Part 2

Over at the pond, we had to do what has become an annual job for me since 2020, which was to tidy up and clear the growth around the path to make it a little more accessible.

We all got on with that, whilst Jane thoughtfully cleared a way through the minor jungle to the life ring..

Then we had a little tea break - for tea, cake, and the customary home made apple juice, ready for the final couple of tasks…

Part 3

We split into two groups here. Jane and Louisa went to work learning on the job and planting a bed of potatoes...

...Whilst Jane, Natalie and Jer finished off the bean structure by tying vertical canes to the skeleton from our earlier work, up which the actual beans will hopefully grow.

Tim demonstrated on the first cane, cutting a couple of bits of string for the tying - which turned out to be way too short for the job.

Jer followed up, taking Tim’s lesson on string-frugality on board, but cutting some ever-so-slightly longer pieces of string. Which turned out to still be slightly too short.

Finally we seemed to get the optimal string length sorted between the four of us, and to date the completed structure remains intact and upright.

A lovely day out was had by all :)

Warm welcome

Finally, a warm welcome to GoodGym first-timer Louisa. Lovely to have you along!