A short, sharp workout

No fewer than 9 GoodGymers joined for tonight’s short workout outside the Soanes Centre!

Welcoming first time GoodGymer Georgina, we popped bags to one side in order to get cracking on tonight’s short workout.

We started with a few dynamic stretches before moving to the obligatory single-leg squats; a seated abdominal exercise and a couple of lunge variations, before finishing with a handful of stretches.

We then made our way over to the toolshed to see Ken, the Park Manager of the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, and our task owner for tonight.

After a short intro, we piled wheelbarrows with gloves and bags, and headed over to tonight’s location, a little way into the park.

The best briefing in the world

Ken then gave his usual brilliant briefing, covering all aspects of health and safety as well as a speedy masterclass in goose grass and cow parsley removal.

Starting work on both sides of the park path, GoodGymers wasted no time in filling many barrows with these common weeds.

It was a productive evening, made all the more enjoyable by the daylight (and even a glimpse of sun).

At just gone quarter to eight, we wheeled the last barrow around to the weed pile and slowly made our way back to base via a most scenic route.

We said our final cheerios to Ken, delighted to be returning next month, to lend a hand helping to maintain this much-loved, beautiful park.

Next week, we’re back to the Columbia Road gardens!

Until then.

Once again we gathered at the Yurt café, even though it had closed two hours earlier. But we were here for a good deed, not a good feed. I arrived quite close to the start time and wondered if anyone else was going to appear. But GoodGymers are known for their precise timing (except Sree and Emma, of course), and nearly all appeared within seconds of the start time, notably Martin who times his pre-task runs to perfection.

Welcome especially to Beth, doing her first ever good deed, and who we hope to see a few more times before she relocates to meet the equally lovely folk at GoodGym Islington.

It was great to be good-deeding in daylight, and to discover there’s a short cut to the Yurt from Limehouse station, until dusk. Some people were still delighting in Fulham’s win against some team from Stratford as we selected gloves: relatively mud-free, and neatly divided into four different sizes.

We were tasked with raking gravel, to be wheelbarrowed away to another spot. One barrow was earmarked for pure gravel, while another was reserved for gravel-mixed-with-earth, which must have got a better name than that. The difficulty came when shovelling up what looked like unadulterated gravel, as we sometimes inadvertently also dug up the earth concealed below, which risked messing up the whole system.

Despite fifteen people wielding spades and shovels (once again trying to ascertain the difference between the two), and long sharp rakes, and pushing wheelbarrows in a confined space, not a single GoodGymer was injured!

Task Force regular Emma​ demonstrated her worth as a photo snapper extraordinaire, then demonstrated how to use a wheelbarrow as a sofa. As Ilana watched the sun set over some indistinguishable writing on a nearby tower block, we gathered for a few final photos. I headed for Limehouse station with Fiona and Alisa, as we looked forward to returning for one or more of the following:

On Saturday lunchtime, join Maddie and Robert sorting food for foodbanks at the Felix Project https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/saturday-afternoon-session-at-the-felix-project-s-poplar-depot-6df11c33-e39a-4480-a244-6b041986663c. Or join the earlier session at 9:30: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/saturday-morning-session-at-the-felix-project-s-poplar-depot-7fd69d30-ee3a-47cb-8268-3c6b48d2ccd5

Next Monday evening we’re heading for the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park – always a fun task. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-big-monday-night-task-gardening-at-the-tower-hamlets-cemetery-park-pre-task-workout-4fd663a8-d032-4189-8e78-e0c1adb73052

On Thursday 9th May, there’s a social at the Monument pub in Whitechapel. Myself, Lucinda and “Southern” Emma have already signed up: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-social-in-the-city

On Sunday 2nd June, join us for a great day out on the stunning Seven Sisters walk: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/seven-sisters-walk

Monday night fitness

We enjoyed a short run and a fitness session this evening en route to our task on the Hollybush Estate.

Navigating a busy Cambridge Heath Road, we headed for Old Bethnal Green Road at the first opportunity, before adding to our mileage around pretty Middleton Green.

Following a handful of mini-hill sprints, we sped through our stretches, and made our way across the road to meet Margaret and Ash.

Some exceptionally large weeds

After admiring well-loaded wheelbarrows, our little group meandered to Strawberry Fields, the Estate’s orchard area.

Tonight’s task was weeding the large beds in preparation for redistributing the soil in the beds to other areas of the Estate.

The weeds were larger and more abundant than both Margaret and Ash had anticipated, so this part of the task took us a while.

We filled many bin liners which were then wheeled over to the compost heap.

Rain, Rain, Go away

Just over halfway through the task, the heavens opened. With a much-heavier-than-forecast downpour, this put a halt to proceedings. Sheltering underneath balconies, we paused to take stock.

Having decided this was no ordinary downpour, Margaret instructed us to gather tools, a little earlier than planned, and headto the compost bays for a final couple of trips.

Gathering for that all-important final pic, we said cheerio to Margaret and Ash, and headed back out into Bethnal Green, the heavy rain failing to dampen our spirits after another fun and productive Monday night.

Until next time.

A rather chilly Monday evening was no match for 9 GoodGymers this evening, all committed to a very physical task in Bow's GET OUT garden.

Meeting at just before 7 at the bottom of Harley Grove, we enjoyed a good 15 minutes of our regular body weight move-routine, ensuring we tackled everything from tricep dip to trap stretch.

Our little group slowly grew, and at just gone 7, we headed around the corner to the large iron gate of the GET OUT garden.

This previously disused, overgrown area of around has been transformed into 'a productive food forest that reflects the principles of permaculture and acts as a hub for education and connecting to nature'.

Tonight GET OUT team member Frankie had several tasks lined up for the team:

The Timber Team were heading to the skate ramp, to shift large planks of wood to the polytunnel and the exit area to help free-up space.

The Weeding Squad headed to the garlic beds to tackle the many weeds that have put down their roots since we planted the bulbs, working carefully around the many weeds in a variety of sizes in this dimly-lit area.

Meanwhile, the dedicated timber team were busy working effectively in pairs shifting very large wooden planks and boards all over the garden.

The brilliant Frankie directed the teams well, assigning them to new areas no soon as one was completed.

8pm came around fast as usual, and at 8:05 we were gathering tools, and admiring Emma and Ilana's final bit of weeding in the patch by the Camellia.

Off to the shed we went, to return kit and pose for our final pics of the night.

Big shout-outs tonight:

... To Martin, our resident head-torch technican.

... To Oliver, on head torch-collection.

...And, a special mention this week, to the GoodGymers who travel across town to join tasks, who tonight included:

• John, who travelled from Camden.

• Emma who travelled from Croyden.

• Oliver who travelled from Southwark.

• ...and Fiona from Waltham Forest!

Great night, everyone.

Until next time.

A dry but blustery evening saw 10 GoodGymers head to the GET OUT garden in Harley Grove this evening to assist the brilliant Frankie with some serious digging work.

But first the fitness

A small group gathered by the little wall at the end of the street to run through tonight’s workout. As luck would have it, the wall was dry and so we were able to add tricep dips, split squats and a couple of variations of the seated leg lower too.

We spent a little time on some upper body stretches this week, agreeing that a short step-by-step flexibility routine, tackling tight traps and the hardworking rotator cuff group is an excellent use of five minutes at the start of the week.

Making our way up to the GET OUT gate, we joined several new arrivals to head in and see what needed to be done tonight.

About GET OUT

The GET OUT garden is a community garden and food forest project in Bow. A previously un-used area of around half an acre has been transformed into a ‘productive food forest that reflects the principles of permaculture, and acts as a hub for education and connecting to nature'.

Tonight's task

Frankie was superbly well prepared, taping off the area, laying out tools, and even creating twine hooks for our lights.

The team wasted no time in making a start, first rooting out the tough alkatel weed, then removing soil, and then turning the remaining soil. Barrows were filled and shuttled over to the compost area.

All the stages of this task proved to be a thoroughly good workout.

The time went quickly and productively, and it was something of a surprise when we realised it was just a few minutes before 8.

Following a quick spade-cleaning tutorial from Frankie (mud = rust) we dropped the last of the tools at the shed; gathered head torches (thanks Emma), and posed (patiently) for that final pic.

It was a great evening: lovely to be back with the knowledgeable and fun Frankie; good to be outside, working hard, being productive and enjoying one another’s company. And an added bonus, tonight we celebrated our John’s 1000th deed (tonight’s was 1009).

Next week, we return to the Yurt Café in Limehouse to see Larry!

Until then.