The aim of our project was to create a community space in the Kertműhely. The work consisted of many small tasks:
- relocating and rebuilding the fence,
- demolishing half of the existing educational garden,
- establishing new keyhole and reaised beds
- a fire pit with a bench,
- a compost toilet, and a shower were also created.
As part of the demonstration garden, we established beds with dye plants, protective plants, and a thematic herb garden (distributed by disease group). A bench and a small willow hut were placed in the herb garden. Additionally, a fairy nook and garden games were also made.
The work started at 9 AM, but we met at 8:30 AM for a morning gathering with the facilitator. After discussing the tasks, we divided into teams and worked until 12:30 PM. After lunch, there was a quiet time until 2:30 PM, and then work continued until 5 PM. Each day, two team members were responsible for cleaning and preparing dinner; they spent the afternoon shift on these tasks. At 5 PM, the facilitator arrived for a short closing activity of the day.
The participants' very different attitudes towards work and community life sometimes caused difficulties. For some, the six hours of work were too much and very hard, while others wanted to extend it. Some found keeping the community space tidy important, while others did not. Some wanted community programs in the evenings, while others did not. These differences caused minor tensions. A difficulty was that it became very cold by the second week, and participants did not have warm clothes, which negatively affected their mood and willingness to work (even though we lent them clothes). After the first week, one person was given responsibility for each sub-task, which helped to awaken their commitment to the project, and they had personal motivation for quality and timely completion.
Ten volunteers participated in the project: German, Italian, Azerbaijani, Moroccan, Lithuanian, Portuguese, French, and Dutch volunteers. It was a very good group with very different people.
