14 do-gooders ran 3k and helped clean and gleam Crop Drop’s new premises

I threw in the towel on the vigorous wagging of chins

A steady stream of red T’s arrived at the GG Haringey HQ, as did a few newcomers. Shouts out to Tav, Hendrickje and Shareen – welcome to ggharingey y’all. Out to the core crew too – much love as ever. It felt great watching/facilitating everybody becoming acquainted. This week’s bunch wasted no time in getting to know each other. The chitchat was flowing nicely; I’m pretty sure everyone would have been fine just standing around having a good old chin wag for the next hour and a half but of course the task was ahead of us so I threw in the towel on the vigorous wagging of chins and started the briefing.

Crop Drop and their mission to provide organic veg to the residents of Haringey

After making a point of telling everybody they should continue getting to know each other during proceedings, we set off for the Crop Drop HQ and this week’s light. We arrived to see the task owners Laura and Rachel, who were waiting in the yard for us with big smiles and huge waves. We had seen the light. Laura began to tell us a little more about Crop Drop and their mission to provide organic veg to the residents of Haringey. She also went on to mention that they were desperate to get their new premises running at full capacity but a leaky roof among other things had hampered this. Unfortunately, the leaky roof had prevented us from being able to decorate but myself, Laura and Rachel had a plan to use a jet wash that I’d managed to acquire, and do some well needed cleaning. Massive thank you to Tom at the Irish Causeway for lending us the jet wash – much appreciated!

“do we have any scrubbers here?”

Laura led us through the warehouse, which had been partitioned into separate units. Piles of veg greeted us once inside the Crop Drop office. There was also a stack of crates, which needed cleaning, hence the jet wash. Then came a question from Rachel “do we have any scrubbers here?” we all found this very amusing and after a few wisecracks Rachel mentioned that there were also some walls in the office that needed cleaning. So we split into two teams, one in the office tarting the place up and another out in the forecourt blasting the crates clean with the jet wash. Of course everybody (me included) wanted a go on the jet wash as it’s great fun using a high powered water pistol even if it is to clean with. Before any arguments started I reminded everyone that all would get a go. Then there was that moment that took me back to days of being teased about my hair at school. Let's quickly move on shall we.

making moonshine from some of their spuds

Meanwhile inside things seemed a little too merry as dashing Dave began doing the can can with his broom while Clare and Hendrickje just seemed to be having oodles of fun cleaning those walls. I wondered if Rachel and Laura had been making moonshine from some of their spuds. Had Dave managed to find the stash? But no it genuinely is good fun coming together as a team and simply helping others. Good vibes all round, seen!

drills/circuits en route back to HQ

Alas that time had come once more we had come to the end of the task. After packing up and bidding farewell to the very happy folk at Crop Drop we set off for our usual drills/circuits en route back to HQ. We didn’t get very far at all before stopping to do our first drill, the hustles but this week there was a twist. We also thrashed out some reverse dips, walk out planks, mountain climbers, bicycles and pistol squats outside the Bernie Grant Centre. As we were just around the corner from GG Haringey HQ we set up a sprint back, which was great fun. Out to Aidan for coming first in the sprint.

Until next week do-gooders - stay fit, do good and look out for the light

Next Week’s Task: Here

6 GoodGymmers braved the forecast, ran 3.5k and took on the mighty thistles at the Lordship Rec

got a promotion and took on a new role as back marker

Thankfully the rain pretty much held off this week. As do–gooders began to arrive we welcomed two new comers Nargees and Helen. Lovely to have you join us guys! As we went through our briefing it started to spit with rain just a little and after a few jokes about future attendance due to the weather we set off on our merry way toward the Lordship Rec, where this week’s light – the adorable Joan awaited our arrival. Out to Paul who got a promotion and took on a new role as back marker effortlessly, splendid job sir.

greeted by a beautiful double rainbow

As we entered the meadow, which contained (for want of a better word) the thistles, that have been taking over this lovely space at the rec, we were greeted by a beautiful double rainbow. We have attended the Rec for tasks twice and been greeted by rainbows on both occasions. I like to think of this as a sign that our efforts are greatly appreciated.

We had seen the light

We were also greeted by a huge wave from the ever so appreciative Joan, in the distance. We had seen the light. She was waiting for us near one of the bridges in the meadow and the scene took me back to our last task here, when something very special happened. See report Here. Once again Joan was extremely pleased to see us and went on to say how much she enjoyed our visits, not to mention the benefit to the park and its users.

age-old argument of whether or not we we're a jogger or runner

Joan then took us to the spot that she wanted us to clear of thistles and we wasted no time in getting stuck in. We split into two groups of three then set about snipping, cutting and bagging of those cluttering composites. Filled bags began to build rapidly as we conversed on the age-old argument of whether or not we we're a jogger or runner. The conclusion – as with most things in life, you can be whatever you want to be if you want it bad enough and put in the effort. Once again time had run out so we gathered ourselves along with a few bags packed with thistles and began to run (maybe we jogged?) toward the compost drop off point to dump the bags, say goodbye to a very proactive Joan, and get ready for our time trial.

This week we launched our monthly time trial

This week we launched our monthly time trial and like any launch the goal posts just had to be moved (a couple of hundred metres). So I had previously told this week’s goodgymmers that they would be doing a time trial over 400 metres and that it wasn’t a race against each other, more a race against themselves so they should push to get a good time to beat next month. Well they all pushed themselves super hard and actually ran a distance of 627 metres. Well done guys. You smashed it!

Time trial results:

Matt - 2:28.37

Paul - 2:30.47

Chris - 2:31.03

Nargees – 3:15.05

Helen – 3:15.45

Next Weeks Task: Here

Until next week do-gooders - stay fit, do good and look out for the light

27 people ran between 4-8k and helped tidy an elderly couples overgrown garden, watered trees in an urban orchard, planted a rare Peruvian root and ran the muesli fartlek.

Tube strike- pah!

Despite the threat of tube strikes affecting their onward journeys 27 people made their way to Somers Town Community Centre for another spectacular Goodgym evening.

They weren't disappointed, or at least I hope they weren't. The task was a corker. We went to help out Alex from Alara Wholefoods and the Urban Orchard Project.

We also had a mission this evening. Alex, Lucy and Paul set off on an 8K run to tidy up Joy's garden for her. It's impossible for her to do it these days and its brilliant that we can help her enjoy it. Great work crew.

Have a look at them Apples.

Alara is now the Urban Orchards Camden base. Read more about the Orchard Project here. It's a great project, (who doesnt love fruit!) showing children where their food comes from. Rock on the Orchard Project!

Water? yes we ought'ta

We had 2 major tasks. The first involved running around the block carrying watering cans or buckets filled with water. On this small industrial estate there are 4 areas where Alex and the team are growing trees (yup, an orchard on an industrial estate in Camden). Our job was to get water to all 4 areas and give the trees a thorough watering. We had one hose- which only reached one area of the plot. So we carried the rest of the water in cans- fairly hard work on the 8 or 9th trip!

Yacon de jak, don't talk back

The rest of the team were on Yacon duty. If you don't know what that is...have a read of this. It's really quite special. 4 people headed to the front of the plot where they 'got stuck in'- weeding the existing Yacon plot. They did a pretty fantastic job, pulling up two big bins of weed in little over 30 mins. Kudos to you.

The rest of the group were involved in planting. Led by Vlad from Alara they sorted through 2 big vats full of roots, taking those that were ready and separating them into pots ready for planting. It was a pretty laborious task but in 30 mins the entire job was done.

Wait a minute Mr Com-post man

We still had time to tidy up the compost pile (free to all community food growing enterprises- Alex is a legend), and have a fire ( nice one Chris and Monica). Phew- what an evening. Before we left Vlad gave us all a little thank you- a lovely pack of Yacon muesli. Thanks guys!

A beautiful evening for a fartlek

Running back to the centre carrying a box of muesli isn't easy so we came up with a plan. We grouped into 3's and ran as a pack. Each person took it in turns to surge to different landmarks on the canal while the others jogged slowly and held the boxes. When they reached the landmark they would jog and allow the others to catch up before swapping roles.

We finished with a stretch at Granary Square before jogging back to the centre. What a corking evening!