Growing Communities Patchwork Farm

Harriet and Dan report:On the hottest day of the year so far, a merry band of Good Gymers set out on the longer of the two missions for the evening. We were off to the Growing Communities Patchwork Farm near Hackney Downs to meet the initially  illusive Stephanie & her secret garden. After an impromptu Benny Hill chase sequence and help from some local kids we found her and her friends Jo & Sheila, resplendent in the patch of reclaimed land full of rubble and weeds and stinging nettles and one rather unruly bush. We divvied out the tasks and set to. Our mission to ready the ground for volunteer ex-apprentice growers to nurture organic salad to sell locally. One group concentrated on relocating a colourful collection of red bricks and random rubble into a pop up installation resembling an urban dry stone wall/barbecue/hotel for the refugee invertebrate population, whilst Julie attacked the nettles with gusto under the watchful gaze of some local kids keen to get stuck in too.Whilst Laura decimated said unruly bush, the rest of our happy crew busied themselves digging and clearing the stubborn weeds to reveal glorious soil beneath, bravely tolerating the pinch of the stingers as they took revenge on their demise.After 45 minutes of hot and sweaty toil the Good Gymers and the GCPF ladies had made good headway and so we bid our farewells and made a happy, speedy retreat into the warm evening with hot knees in search of a dock leaf.Thanks to Harriet for leading the run and taking pictures.More photos are on the GoodGym facebook page.