At Clitterhouse Farm, the approaching cold weather means the greenhouse has never been more important (or appreciated). But while it keeps all the incubating veggies inside nice and toasty, who’s looking out for it? The answer, of course, is GoodGym.

To make sure the sturdy wooden frame was ready for whatever the elements might chuck at it, Tabitha, Josh, Samina, Pete, and Chris headed over to give it a good oiling — specifically with linseed oil, which is perfect not only for protecting wood from rot and moisture, and enhancing its natural grain and colour (what a glow-up!), but also for bringing back nostalgic memories of preparing cricket bats as a child. (That might just have been Pete, though.)

Before we could start, we had to make sure that any existing residents wouldn’t be harmed, so several volunteers used feather dusters to sweep away cobwebs and safely deposit quite a few huge spiders into the nearby bushes.

Then it was just a question of grabbing our brushes and sponges and giving the greenhouse a nice, solid coat of oil - all set for the months ahead!

Eagle-eyed visitors to Clitterhouse Farm in Willesden will have spotted a recent addition: a shed that’s the brand new home of Cycletastic. They’re a volunteer-led project that both fixes your bike and teaches you how to fix them too!

But the shed isn’t the only new arrival – with summer making way for autumn, rain is also back on the menu. Great for plants (including the many veggies being grown at the farm) but maybe not so brilliant for attendees who don’t want mud all over their footwear.

What was needed was some kind of natural cover for the ground. And that’s where GoodGym came in, rolling out a red (well, brown) carpet of wood chips for the Cycletastic crew.

Braving the September showers, Tabitha, Pete, Josh and Chris got to work shifting the chips from their original pile to all around the shed. Only breaking occasionally to seek shelter from the heaviest of downpours, the team diligently shovelled the chips into waiting wheelbarrows, ready to be rolled to their destination.

Before they knew it, the previously plain ground was decked out in a thick rug of wood chips – all set for the many feet (and wheels) coming its way.

we watered and shovelled compost !

Last night, our team met in Willesden and ran to Clitterhouse Farm, ready to roll up our sleeves and get stuck into some serious garden work.

The biggest task of the evening was shifting a hefty pile of firewood—log after log, we worked as a team to move it all efficiently using bags and wheelbarrows to help.

Once the wood was sorted, we tackled the wild garden, removing thorns, weeds, and a particularly large patch of bindweed. It was satisfying work, and the space looked noticeably better by the end of the evening.

Rob handed out a number of other odd jobs including bending metal rods and tidying up rubbish .

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and made light work of a heavy job. Clitterhouse Farm is a special place, and it was great to contribute to keeping it thriving.

Hatrick of leafleting tonight!

we helped spread the word!