Turning over some old leaves

28 runners ran 5k to help at a community Well Being Garden

It was back to old routine at GoodGym Camden this weeks after a series of indoor tasks over the last month, and despite the cold and lack of light it was a welcome return.

An easy 2k for 28 lyrca clad heroes

We meet at Somers Town Community and ran off towards Kentish Town Health Centre in a big pack. It was a 2k route- but it felt much shorter as we chatted amongst ourselves. We arrived at the Health Centre a little early and were greeted by a load of puzzled looking security guards who clearly weren't expecting 28 lycra clad heroes to take over the reception area.

Well-being herb growing

The Well Being Garden is based at the Kentish Town Health Centre and is a collaboration between the Free Space Gallery, Transition Kentish Town and young people from the Elfrida Rathbone Centre. They are aiming to grow herbs and plants connected to health and well-being, which will be grown and used by local residents and users from the Health Centre. Transition KT will also run growing and sustainability workshops and should provide a little haven for for rest and relaxation!

Tiny tool issue

The garden is in its infancy so there are lots of jobs to do to turn the area into a functioning space. Our main task was to turn the soil and spread a huge sack of compost. This sounded easy for 28 tough GoodGym-ers but tools were at a premium- so although a lucky few were handed forks and spades- the majority were left with trowels and hand forks. No matter- it just forced us to work harder.

Nasty mulchy, eggy smell

There was also a third job- and this was a beaut. Chris and Kirsten were given the unenviable task of shifting and attempting some large sacks of leaf mulch to the compost area. The smell was....terrific! I think Chris managed to clear a whole carriage on the tube ride home. The area was transformed when we had finished- with all the compost spread over the garden and a vast majority of the land transformed and ready for planting.

Canal or casual

On the run home we broke into 2 groups. The larger group headed for the canal to stretch their legs on a slightly longer route while a smaller group kept it social and jogged back the same way home. We got back just before 8.30pm (a change for us!)- giving us time for a stretch before we headed off home. Nice job everyone.