6 Goodgymmers from the Islington borough made a weekend trip to Freightliner's Farm, a wonderful community institution over near Paradise Park. We met with wonderful volunteer coordinator Liz near the main office, before putting on wellies and sturdy gloves for some mucky jobs on a wet day.

The first task was to move 35 bags of manure from one side of the farm over to the Freightliner's Farm transit van, ready to be dropped off at different gardening projects across Islington. Between us, we used wheelbarrows and some umph to get these loaded up in good and ample time. Task number 2 involved us raking up tonnes of fallen leaves across fields and pathways, to keep the foliage from rotting down and making these surfaces really slippery for visitors. We could also collect up the greenery for composting and mulching in the new year!

Throughout the afternoon, we were watched by goats, cows, chickens and barn cats (Bagheera was a particular character!). A lovely day out helping the local animal residents!

8 Goodgym folks from all different boroughs joined us at Freightliner's Farm last night for one of our most popular tasks. We had the opportunity to say hello to some of the lovely animals for one final time in 2020 (including Marley the cat, Bramble the goat and Belinda the cow).

We met up with Liv, the main volunteer coordinator for the farm at the main gates (she was busy selling jams and chutneys to passers by at the time- £3 a jar, very tasty!). She admitted that the task tonight was not going to be glamourous at all (which is to be expected!), and we needed 6 people to help with mucking out the goat stable. 2 of our team were also required to hang Christmas decorations on the trees outside (by the fancy chicken pens).

We made a production line over the course of the hour, with two Goodgymmers using forks to clear the goat stable (gathering straw and... other stuff), two or three folks carting wheelbarrows to and from the muck pile, and two more helpers unloading the contents of the wheelbarrows on the other side. It was a very effective chain, and Liz was very impressed with the amount of progress we had made on a big ardous job!

It was an absolute pleasure to see you all again last night, and we'll certainly return to Freightliner's Farm again soon.

6 Goodgym folks braved the drizzle to come and help out at Freightliner's Farm last night. We have had some really great sessions here over the last few weeks, contributing towards getting the farm prepared for their proposed opening this weekend.

Goodgym runners have removed huge chunks of soil and rubble from pathways to allow easy access for all visitors, using a safe one-way system, and have collected multiple truck loads of overgrown plants, grass and green waste to make the farm presentable.

We were greeted with the smell of homemade gooseberry jam being boiled on a stove as we entered the cafe area (hopefully open soon too!). Lots of fruit, veg and plants will be available to buy to support the project.

Firstly, our team set about gathering up the remnants of old fences, and placing them on the back of the pick up truck. New fences will be installed soon, to aid the one-way system. We then separated into 2 teams, and started to remove green trimmings, old overgrown plants and nettles from the footpaths. Many wheelbarrows were filled with spiky plants and long branches, but we did a excellent job of clearing the space!

We were treated to a short tour of the animal enclosure before heading off, and had the chance to say "Hello" to Bramble the Goat, Milthilda the cow, lots of sheep, various Kune Kune pigs, all the farm cats (Bagheera, Molly and Whiskey the shop cat) and hundreds of snails, out enjoying the weather!

8 of use met on Friday to help Liz at Freightliners Farm continue to fight back the green things that sprung-up during lockdown, and to adapt the place to a new one-way system format for their reopening.

Whilst we meddled with the cats 🐱, Liz briefed us on what we were there to do - either cleaning mortar off of blocks, or the GG evergreen task, wedding.

Mark along for his first ever GG task (welcome!!) was joined by Jackie and John with bolster and hammer to take care of the blocks.

Sally, Toyin, Steve and myself took up blades and rakes to address the living stuff in the very nicely organised (but now rather overgrown) garden.

All went swimmingly despite the weather rather turning against us about half way through the time. Consequently after a quick scrub-up (safety first!) we all scurried off into the night.

Lovely to meet you Mark and thanks to Sally and Simon for photos 👍 Have a great weekend all and perhaps will see you back at Freightliners next Wednesday evening (8th) for more of the same.

Busy times at Freightliner's Farm, with the crew preparing for their intended re-opening. Goodgym having been helping out over the last few weeks, setting up a one-way system for the public, avoiding unnecessary crowding wherever possible.

Our first task involved moving a potted plant nursery to a new location (out of the bright sun). These pots are due to sold in the shop, to raise funds to the project. Moving the greenhouse panel structure was a four person job to complete safely!

Laura helped volunteer coordinator Liv with cleaning and sanitising all the surfaces in an open work space (where a school group is due to visit in the next few days). Jay and Trainer Simon dug out a compacted soil passage to help with the one way system (using a "wrecking bar" to break down the firm mud). John and Iman packed up and moved broken paving slabs on to a pick-up truck, and decanted some of the materials into new bags (some of the old ones were broken and split after being left behind during the lockdown).

We were treated to a quick trip to say Hello to the animals, and even had the chance to hold a beautiful bunny! A lovely way to spend a Wednesday evening.

9 musically gifted Goodgym runners (including first timer Emily- welcome!) came out for our carol singing finale for 2019. Slightly different to our usual tasks, we planned to promoting and fund raising for one of our favourite task owners (Freightliners Farm) by singing carols and Christmas songs outside Highbury & Islington station. Mega props to Steve for the excellent festive elf costume (with matching jingle bell gaiters) and for providing additional Santa hats for all!

Before we set off, we performed the count off, and asked whether anyone was planning a Christmas Day parkrun or not. The answers were as follows:

• "I didn't know parkrun happened on Xmas day!"
• Exeter parkrun
• Wilmslow parkrun
• Gladstone parkrun
• Pontypool parkrun
• "Ha ha, definitely not!"

We made our way outside the hub, and performed the "12 dynamic workouts of Christmas" as a warm up:

• 12 stars-a-lumping
• 11 mountains climbing
• 10 abductors twisting
• 9 upward springings
• 8 hip flexor swingings
• 7 hamstrings sweepings
• 6 heels-a-raising
• 30 second plank!
• 4 squat jumps
• 3 static lunges
• 2 press ups
• and finish with a single burpee!

We then separated into a running group and a walking group. Group 1 ran a slightly longer route to Freightliners Farm to pick up some leaflets for us to distribute (sadly, these were either not there, or we couldn't find them). Group 2 walked directly to Highbury & Islington station, and we gathered up at pretty much the same time.

A medley of Christmas songs and carols had been pre-printed and prepared for this evening, and we got straight to singing some of our favourites for the commuters leaving the station. A small collection tub was set up, accepting donations as we sang. We started with Merry Christmas, working into Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Then we started singing some of the more traditional carols: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night were popular. Before we left, we made sure we did a lively rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas, and set off back to the Emirates for mince pies and stretching!

NEWS

Goodgym Islington is now closed for Christmas and New Year, but we will be back again on 6th January 2020 for our annual Xmas tree collecting task. Please note that this task will start at The Arc Centre, not the Emirates Stadium, due to a rare Monday evening football game being played.

Sign up here for more details.

Crisis at Christmas

If you are still looking for a Goodgym-style task in December, then consider signing up to help with Crisis at Christmas offer some assistance for those in need over the festive period. They are looking for all sorts of volunteers, from creative folks and warehouse assistants, to friendly faces and team leaders.

Have an utterly wonderful Christmas folks, and a Happy New Year!!!