5 hardy GoodGymers braved the chilly weather to help out at the community allotment. Georgeta was immediately drawn to photographing the frosty fractals that had formed on the shed windows. We were delighted to welcome Sinead for her very first task. Our task today was to clear the ground around the new fruit trees of the grass and brambles to reduce the competition and so they can be mulched. We set to with spades, forks and edging tools, relieved that the ground wasn't too frozen. Our spirits were high as we caught up after the Christmas break, and much laughter drifted across the allotment. Before we knew it, we had filled 2 barrows with grass, brambles and roots. The mulching will have to wait for another day, but we were pleased with our progress. Kudos to Sinead, Georgeta, Sheila and Rachel for walking to the task

In the last scheduled session this year at the Community Allotment, Rosie and Sheila cleared what was left of the beetroot crop, covered the bed with the last scraping from the compost bin, and covered the bed with plastic. We scavenged waste wood from around the site and used it to hold the plastic in place through whatever storms the winter will bring. All whilst being watched over by our resident robin.

Diya made an early start at the community allotment and was already hard at work when Sheila and Kay arrived. Diya cleared the bed of peppers, taking them to the composting area while Sheila and Kay cut plastic to cover the bed. We dug some well-rotted manure out of the bay (even Diya admitted it smelt sweet - well, almost!), which we spread on the bed and covered with the plastic sheets. We were joined at the manure bin and pepper bed by a very friendly robin, looking for any tasty treats we had uncovered, and there were certainly plenty of worms! As Diya went off to her yoga class, we weeded around the new figs

Today at the Community Allotment was all about getting the site ready for winter. I did the watering, cut down the old raspberry canes, and mulched the old tomato bed.

No watering was needed at the community allotment today, but plenty of tidying up was needed. Sheila joined another volunteer,and between them they trimmed a tree, pulled out old courgette plants, tidied up old pieces of wood scattered around the site, and weeded between the Welsh onions

At the community allotment this evening the first task for Angela and Sheila was to start filling the water butts once the Day Centre had emptied, as the hose could be a trip hazard. Meanwhile we started taking down the tomato plants, as any remaining fruits would not have time to ripen. The green tomatoes were collected for anyone wanting to make green tomato chutney. The plants were put on the compost heap and the canes tidied away. Our good deed for the day was to give some produce to a lady passing by who wanted to buy the vegetables. I hope she enjoyed it!