Volunteering at Boarbank Hall, One Morning a Week for a Year
By Steve Richardson
As some of you may know, I asked Sister Margaret if I could spend some time helping in Boarbank Hall's fruit, vegetable and flower gardens, to learn what it takes to grow on a scale much larger than an allotment.
My first day was 20th February, starting at 8am. What was I expecting? Honestly I thought I'd be wet, cold, muddy and face a considerable amount of scepticism from the experienced team of David, John and Andrea who have created this fabulously productive garden. Instead, what I actually got was a warm welcome, and I certainly didn't get wet, cold or muddy.
The team have been working this land for years and know what they are doing. Monday's job was spreading mulch under bushes and trees to suppress weeds and nurture the soil. I spent the morning with a shovel and a wheelbarrow, working with John, steadily emptying a trailer full of wood chippings that had been created earlier in the year. John and I joked about life, and got to know each other.
10am was time for a break. We all drank tea and coffee in the main work area, shared our thoughts and I tried to do more listening than talking!
After coffee, another team effort with John refilling the trailer. This was quite a job, less talking and more perspiration. John worked at twice my rate judging by the pile of chippings he managed to shift. No need for a gym membership.
At the end of the morning it was time for me to head off. David said I'd done a good job and looked forward to seeing me next week. He then shook my hand. That felt good.
What stayed in my mind after day one as I headed home for lunch. Two things:
"There is no end goal here, it's a process of always learning and improving and doing this for the grandchildren."
" Work at a steady pace. There will always be something to do, every day".
Next week, I'll be mixing compost leaf mold and soils for the pots!
