Sunday, 9:30am- After getting up bright and early and putting on all the layers we could find we arrived at the meeting point and met Andrea, plant enthusiast and coordinator for the organic garden project and the rest of VG team. Slightly unsure of what’s in store we head off to the Centro Cultural El Perro, near Barracas. 
11am- It’s time to get our hands dirty! The ‘huerta’ or garden is very empty and needs some improvements, so we start by digging up the soil and removing any rubbish or large rocks. Andrea gives us a lesson on how to use a spade properly; apparently it’s all in the arms! The other volunteers start to attach wooden frames to the planters in order to create some shade for the plants which they will need come summertime.
1.00pm- We haven’t quite found any buried treasure, only a few worms, but the soil is looking ready to welcome some new plants. Everyone gathers around Andrea as she explains what we will be planting, including small plants called ‘Lazos de amor’ (roughly ‘bows of love’). Everyone takes one and introduces it to its new home in the huerta, with lots of love, of course! The garden is in a much better condition after a few hours’ work and everyone deserves a pat on the back.
2pm- The smell of fresh empanadas lures everyone inside for a well-deserved break, but not until we’ve washed all the soil off our hands! Time for a quick team photo and our work here is done. Everyone enjoyed the morning and we can’t wait to see what the garden will look like in a few months’ time!
The garden at the Centro Cultural El Perro is now linked with the organic garden in the psychiatric hospital project, for more information on how you can join our volunteer team on these projects click here.
