Another session wrapped up at the Merton community Fridge, helping with registrations and distribution today, along with setting up and cleaning up after.
Always great to work with the volunteers and the community , everyone is very friendly.

I've never harvested potatoes but that was one of our jobs at this session. We dug them out of the compost and put them into a crate, ready for use at the Open Table, where a meal is cooked for the community. Meanwhile, Williams was back on compost-turning duty, having done such an impressive job last time. It was lovely to meet new GooodGymer Melissa, and we hope to see her again soon. The rain started to fall right at the end of the session, so it was time to make a dash and avoid the splash. We'll be back next month.

The earlier downpour had luckily abated for the monthly volunteering morning at the garden. We enjoyed a varied session, which included weeding the raspberry patch, turning the compost, mulching, taming the sage and lemon balm and even litter picking, where Rob got lucky and found a decapitated Action Man. It was also a day for spotting wildlife, with eight newts seen in the compost pile, a friendly robin and even a mouse. It was lovely to see Alyson back with us and to meet a potential new recruit in Laura. Rob stayed on to help with more mulching and did a sterling job (observed from the comfort of the cafe, but don’t spill the beans!)

Morden Parkrun had a GoodGym volunteer support operations amid rainy conditions. Approximately 150-200 participants braved muddy paths, maintaining high spirits.

A great session all round with 29 guests in total, making for another lively evening together. The hosting team kept things running smoothly and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming throughout. They began with pizza served alongside a fresh carrot, apple and cabbage slaw, followed by a flavour-packed kimchi fried rice topped with a soft-boiled egg and a spring onion and coriander sauce. To finish, guests enjoyed a banoffee Rice Krispie treat paired with banana custard, which proved a real crowd-pleaser. They even received a huge pumpkin as a donation. Another fantastic effort from the whole team!

The team welcomed 33 guests in total, which is the busiest session for a while. The menu went down a treat, beginning with Pizza and Caesar salad, followed by a hearty tomato, garlic and chilli pasta, and rounded off with a delicious banana and blueberry cake for pudding. It was a lively and rewarding session, and a great team effort all round.