Lettuce Run and Lettuce Dig Tom Make a Difference for Growing Works

For the second week running GoodGym Huddersfield were running and getting wet. This time we were running down to Dalton to do some digging on the community allotment operated by local charity Growing works. Growing works hosted the first ever GoodGym Huddersfield task back in September last year so it was great to return.

To be fair it wasn’t great weather for gardening, good for ducks but not great for digging, planting and potting. It wasn’t that good for running either, although 6 GoodGymmers turned out for the 2.5K route to the allotment. Once there, Sue from Growing works (who is well practiced at organising groups and getting them quickly on task) had us divided up into two teams and fully briefed as to our task. Arguably Louise Galvin, Ben Godfrey and Mark Donnelley drew the short straw and the heavy lifting, having to fill and the dig over a raised bed, whilst Kati Law, Meg Deacon and myself enjoyed potting lettuce and pruning tomato plants in the relative comfort of the poly tunnel.

Listening to the rain on the tunnel roof I quite enjoyed separating little lettuce seedlings into individual pots, and chatting with Kati and Meg whilst they planted tomatoes. Meanwhile the diggers were benefitting from Sue’s encyclopaedic knowledge of all things allotment, particularly when they found some (apparently) dreaded and very invasive Mares Tail, which needed removing and careful disposal. Ben meanwhile had disappeared, returning a few minutes later with a steaming cup of tea, following which he was swiftly appointed as tea boy for all of the soggy workers. Ten minutes later were all stood around the potting shed enjoying a drink, and the biscuits Sue had kindly provided. Any task with biscuits is a hit with GoodGym Huddersfield! The break also gave some of us the opportunity to try Growing work's very impressive and equally eco composting toilet. I sure the fact that the toilet hut was the warmest and driest spot on the entire allotment had nothing to do with its popularity!

A little more work and then it was time to say goodbye to Sue and wind our way back through the streets of Dalton to the Stadium. Thanks to all last night’s GoodGymmers for turning out in the rain once again and Sue from Growing works for organising the task. We shall return in September for more digging, more biscuits and hopefully better weather!