What do you get when you mix determination, sticky clay, and a bit of rain? A Staywell garden makeover, of course! Emily, Farzeen, Jana, and Jana’s dad were on a mission: they had two hours to transform the space, no matter the challenges thrown their way.

The first task? Filling a trench that had been dug to lay cables. Sounds simple, right? Not quite. The soil was sticky, heavy, and as close to concrete as dirt can get. It clung to everything—shovels, boots, and even spirits. But Farzeen jumped right in, tackling a significant chunk of the trench before moving on to other tasks, including clearing frostbitten plants from the entrance flower beds, picking up paint-covered debris from a spillage, and weeding the driveway. Talk about multitasking!

Meanwhile, Emily, Jana, and Jana’s dad soldiered on with the trench, battling both the mud and their own endurance. As the work heated up (literally), a few layers of clothing had to come off. Mud-streaked but determined, they powered through until the tea break arrived like a beacon of hope.

Halfway through, chocolates from Staywell and Jana’s homemade banana cake provided the much-needed energy boost. Just as everyone started to feel recharged, the weather decided to spice things up. The heavens opened, and the wind howled, but quitting wasn’t an option. With rain pelting down and mud doubling its clinginess, the team rallied together to finish the job.

Amazingly, every task on the list was completed! The trench was filled, the garden tidied, and the driveway weeded. By the end, everyone was soaked, muddy, and dreaming of hot showers, but the sense of achievement was undeniable.

We hope the visitors of the Staywell Day Centre enjoy the fruits of our muddy labor—and we can’t wait to come back for round two!