Tuesday 14th July
Report written by Merton runner
Our task for The Small Quarter wasn't quite what we'd expected - instead of shifting soil, we found ourselves tackling an emergency water shortage after weeks of hot weather left the community garden’s 2,000-litre water bowser had run dry. With no water supply on site, GoodGym was called up for an emergency assist, subbing in water for soil and a literal cup run!
With the buzz of the men’s World Cup football in the background, GoodGymmers Jade and Audrey set about building attacks from the back - filling dozens of milk bottles, 5-litre containers and a few industrial-sized bottles at the local football club. A well-drilled passing game moved empty bottles smoothly from opener, to filler, to capper, to cart-loader. But the journey to the garden was anything but a straight run at goal as we had to play our way patiently over a railway bridge, around a busy roundabout and through a crowded midfield of cars!
Reaching the garden wasn't quite the final whistle, however. Our cart was too wide for the gate, so the water had to be passed into wheelbarrows for a one-wheeled cross into the box. The gardeners then decanted everything into the bowser, we gathered up the empties, and headed back for another run.
After several rounds and around 500 litres delivered, we'd put in a full 90 minutes and then some! A few slices of ripe melon provided a welcome rehydration break before heading home, confident that our task has safely delivered this fantastic garden into extra time.
We grow food to donate to local food banks, we look to bring the community together as a shared space, to make a space for nature, to give a voice to the vulnerable, to keep fit and maintain physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health.
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