BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP...

...what's that, we all said...

...BLEEP BLEEP BLEEP...

...it's a fire alarm, we all realised as we arrived at Ashdown Crescent Sheltered Housing yesterday evening...

...IT'S BEING SORTED...

...we were assured – which it safely was – just as our wonderful group (of Celine, Danny, Hanry, Helen, Emilie, John, Justine, Siobhan, and Steve) got going with multiple tasks in Ashdown's special communal gardens!

Emilie, John, and Siobhan cracked a thirty minute miracle turning an overgrown patio into a serene space to relax - amazing!

Justine and Danny seemed to be constantly filling green bags – they captured weeds, trimmings, and other debris – and their efforts transformed the main entrance way into a space to enjoy - wonderful!

And Celine, Hanry, Helen, and Steve must have dabbled in a little magic to make the difference they did - tired and dead-wood filled planters ended up pruned, spruced, and planted with seeds and blubs - magical!

Thank you so much, everyone! Here's to next time!

The wonderfully creative folks at Think & Do Camden have made something special happen...

...just south of Camden Town sits Bayham Place Estate - 4 blocks around a very wonderful green space...

...but their planters had been removed and discarded for fire safety...

...until the wonderful Hafiz and Nicole at Think & Do ran this week's Beeline Box project!

These special planters are recycled, super high quality, and fire safe - and they add colour and life to the estate's terraces. There's one for each flat, and local young people will be in charge of watering and maintenance. It's a gorgeous project and we were very happy to play our small part today!

Alex, Cherian, Emily, John, and Siobhan were on the herb run. They ferried pots (upon pots upon pots) of lavender, marjoram, oregano, mint, rosemary, and thyme up stairs (upon stairs upon stairs) and planted beeline box (upon box upon box!)

Thank you so much, everyone - what a lovely and sunny task!!

Just what are the requirements for a (city farm hosted) May Day Fayre?

We think - from past experience - these has to be sun-lounging goats, snack-hungry guinea pigs, strewn straw, well-used marquees, and home knitted bunting - and this wonderful group helped with the latter two yesterday!

Our brilliant crew - of Justine and Danny (on their first GoodGym good deeds - welcome!!), Anne, Matt, Michael, and Siobhan - turned Kentish Town City Farm's yard into a fayre-ready space.

Multiple marquees were checked for holes, built, and positioned - and lovely woolen bunting was draped and tied across it all - you'll see from the photos just how special it all looked :)

Thank you, everyone! See you soon!!

Eight wonderful GoodGymers enjoyed community last night!

The start of April signaled the light and lengthening evenings, and the end gifted us brightness and heat.

Our group looked wondrously summer-y as we assembled on Cressfield Close in Kentish Town.

Home to the City Farm, this quiet cul-de-sac is also where a happy sheltered housing block sits. Our group has been helping tend their (wonderfully cared for) communal garden for years, and we got quickly to our tasks yesterday.

Guided by ace manager, Cathi, and kind residents, Marie and Michael, we settled into rhythms of conversation and work.

Caitlin and Siobhan filled two new vegetable growing pens with manure, mulch, and compost, and they left them ready for the coming weeks' incoming vegetables!

John and Jackie (later joined by Caitlin and Siobhan) worked their weeding magic on a growing patch that will soon bloom with roses - the difference they made was huge!

And Emilie, Imogen, and Steve visited lovely resident, Kit, and together they removed bag-upon-bag of weeds, shrubs, and vines - they left the space transformed!

Thank you, everyone! This was a special evening to share!