Weed-chill

10 runners ran 6 kilometres to clear land.

We're getting to know the Growing Communities Patchwork Farm project well now. Last night GoodGym Hackney helped another hidden micro-site in St Michael and All Angels Church, Stoke Newington.

"locally and sustainably grown food"

Their aim is to increase locally and sustainably grown food and help growers generate an income from food production in Hackney. You can find out more about Patchwork Farms here, it's inspired some of the GoodGym runners to do more growing in their own gardens.

"brave Ximena"

The brave Ximena, a Patchwork farmer, has taken on two Patchwork Farms in the area! She's got one going well, but needed our help to start the other by getting rid of all the wild weeds on the patch.

Once cleared, Ximena can grow salad to sell locally and develop a wildlife garden in the little oasis.

With our mission in site, we ran and zigged zigged our way through Hackney Central, St John's Gardens, Hackney Downs and the residential neighbourhood around Stoke Newington Common.

I love the way in which GoodGym runs offer you different routes in the area as well as the motivation to go a bit further and faster in a friendly group environment.

You can get bored and stale running the same old route when you're running on your own, but the GoodGym helps you to discover interesting areas you've never been to before. I think this can invigorate your running.

It was a quiet and warm evening. We worked hard weeding in the back garden to joyful African singing from the church.

We set about digging and pulling the overgrown weeds, brambles, nettles and unwanted plants from 6 planters.

Mint and sage were in the mix, and released their relaxing scent into the air as the GoodGymers dug deep.

"singing and herb scents"

With the gentle banter of the runners, the singing and herb scents, the work left us all feeling pretty chilled as well as worked out.

As the singing flowed, we packed up and re-warmed on the nearby lawn surrounded by delicious blackberry bushes before heading back to London Fields.

"we joined the last revellers"

We took a different route home in that lovely light between day and night. With the moon out, full and large, we joined the last revellers in London Fields for a 100m blast before cooling down and heading home for a well deserved tea.