My chalk lines began to wash away with the first rain shower at 9 o’clock and I felt the first tinglings of stress in my fingertips. Dylan had been anxious the last few days getting everything ready and I had been smug in my serenity, I should have known better. We sprang to erect tarps as the first Blitzers arrived and the rain was constant, the one time we couldn’t say ‘well at least it’s good for the garden’. So the day started creakingly slow, but with tarps up and people warming into their work things started running beautifully. Due to the rain only the most exuberant workers showed up and there was not one spade leaner in sight, My spirits rose exponentially to see everyone working together with such enthusiasm.

During the introductions Gracie dog tried her best to hog the spotlight, throwing herself wholeheartedly into a volley of mad barks every time anybody clapped. Everybody jumped at the chance to join the earthbag team which crowded around Nicholas and Minna as they explained superadobe. I quickly replaced my chalk outlines with something a bit more waterproof, but a lot more tempting for people to move out of the way of wheelbarrows. The heroes of the day were Paras and Laura who took long turns on the toughest and loneliest job making the earthbag mix.

The kids happily darted around picking peas and flowers for salads and helping Anne and my parents getting lunch ready. No one who saw the delight they took in the garden could have a doubt in their hearts that  permaculture gardens are magical thing indeed.

Please comment on this post if you found it interesting, I’d love to hear about your Permablitz experiences!