A longer than usual run tonight, but worth it to be out and about and helping a great group.

We were heading out to a community growing space - Stargarallot, they grow food that goes to the Oasis centre, Tremorfa Community Pantry and Splo-Down Food Coop. Our task for the evening was to clear the polytunnel, remove soil from the two growing beds and put in a layer of manure, replace the soil and then top it off with some fresh compost.

Nothing was going to waste as everything green removed went straight to the compost bins, that had already been cleared ready for the goodgym team. It was all go, as we split into teams, some in the polytunnel - either side in different beds, and some out filling wheel barrows with the fresh compost

A perfect night for the task, the rain had cleared and the sun was breaking through the clouds. Just enough breeze to keep us cool as we got busy, digging, raking and moving soil.

After a good workout of 30 minutes we were done, and it was time for a photo in the tunnel.

A small group made their way on a slightly longer jog this week, to help at Stargarallot community garden. It was still quite warm considering the slight rain, in fact the rain helped to keep us cool - goodgymers don't let rain stop them.

Tonight's task - to help tidy up the pathways, plants had found their way through and were growing a lot now. Plenty of time to chat about movies and what we wanted to get out and see. Of course, Barbie and Oppenheimer were mentioned. Michael made sure to let people know about the red ants, they had developed a taste for Michael in particular over the years.

Learning Time

The Red ant is commonly found under stones and logs in the garden, and also in soil and lawns. It is active throughout the year, but winged adults swarm in late summer during hot and humid weather; these 'flying ants' mate and eventually disperse to form new colonies.

Did you know? Red ant workers have a surprisingly painful sting and will attack if disturbed.

Living up to its name, the Red ant has a reddish-brown body and a darker head. It is a medium-sized ant.

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try planting native plants and trees to entice birds, mammals and invertebrates into your backyard?

Still a HOT week but with some cooler breaks, a great evening for running - now that's enough of the Weather

to the TASK

As the distance this evening was slightly longer we had two locations again, our usual Start of the Daffodil and then just outside Dunelm on Newport road. With the addition of cyclists joining us directly at the task.

It had been quite a while since we'd made our way to the community gardens of StarGarAllot, so there was plenty to do for us tonight. So ELEVEN of us got to work, we had 6 beds to get into a clear out, some already had some plants hidden like the secret strawberries, whilst others were obvious such as the Rhubarb.

Gloves on, tools in had - watch out for any ANTs, and to work. 30 hard minutes of grafting and we were done, in time for a quick photo and to the celebrations.......

Congratulations to Sophie on 100 DEEDS

Smashed it

Now for some quick Rhubarb FACTS.......

Rhubarb is not a fruit, is is in fact a vegetable. And......one of only a few perennial vegetables that once planted will continue to grow, others include artichoke, asparagus.

Join us next MONDAY, for the next group activity....what plant delights will we learn??? Sign up HERE

On a suprising rainy day, three goodgymers went to a community allotment to help out.

We welcome two new people into the goodgym group, Layla and Alex.

Croeso

Our first task was to move some pallets over to the stack, to get it to the correct height. Once done it was time to move the water tank to it's new location. But first we had to wait for some of the water to empty out so that it was lighter, so some quick tidying up of the site. Benches picked up and put back, lids put onto compost bins.

Let's do this

Time to move the giant water butt over to create the new water tower....And for the old area, we still have time to dismantle the structure and move the compost into the nice new bins.

Thanks for coming out on a damp day and we hope to see you again soon.

Just the two today as we arrived back at Stargarallot community plot to lend a hand.

Our tasks were to transfer water from the GIANT butt into the smaller water butts - one of which has the solar powered irrigation set up to water the polytunnel with a touch of a button - Fancy.

Move the compost from the old bins into the ones at the back, giving it a turn along the way.

Dismantle the old compost heaps to build a new water butt holder out of pallets.

It was a total of one hundred gallons moved one bucket at a time - which was certainly a workout for a Sunday morning.

Great to be back and plenty more to do for a return trip.

Our last week evening trip to Stargarallot as the nights draw in and the darkness halts our community growing work - At least for the evenings ------ Watch this space for weekend delightful days!

Some simpler tasks to tackle tonight, as our Area Activator is still with a broken collarbone and on photo duty ONLY.

We had planters to move around to help clear some space in the growing areas and to block off the compost bins for a while, these were two people jobs and already full of plants. Plenty of shifting of pots in and out as some wonderful weight work, before the carrying could even begin.

Once in position it was time to move some tools, they were going out of the current store and down the plot to a different store for some other people to use - sharing is caring!

Finally our eager goodgymers had to tackle the tree that had been dumped on land and in the way, so with mighty strength (and a trolley) it was moved over to the some trees where it would rot down and give some shelter to any animals in need this Winter.

A great evening, and as the darkness came in there was still time for some tea and cake.