To un-volunteer...

[SillyCow6]

I have wanted to join our local community garden for ages but because I procrastinate over almost everything, it never happened. I saw a post on our local tidy towns facebook page asking for people to help water the plants dotted around the town and I thought "yeah, great way to start getting involved in some sort of community gardening type activities" despite my complete lack of gardening knowledge and equipment.
I have been asked to water 8 huge planters, which I am happy to do...but I have no idea how to transport the water to the fupping flowers I have some big plastic toy tubs I can empty and half fill but there are speed bumps all down the road to the flowers so I will end up soaking dhs car and I have nothing with a lid apart from my large saucepan.
I was told to give them a bucket full of water each per week but how the frig am I going to manage this?! Does anyone have any tips for me, or will I have to un-volunteer and let everyone in town know how inept I am?

From
Embarrassed in FlowerLand

Ask the co-ordinator how the previous waterer managed to get water to the planters; it's not a daft question.

Well either you can afford and want to buy a few lidded buckets or you can’t and don’t! Up to you really 🤣

No shame is asking advice from your fellow volunteers

In this weather they’ll need more water in this weather.

I’d buy a caravan water container if I had to do that.

Couple of 2L bottles?

I don't know why, but your post has tickled me

Buy a few 2 litre bottles of something and refill those. Sounds like a fun job

That was really unhelpful

Maybe there are taps throughout the town?

Or take the water in some of those 3 litre milk bottles. 4 of those equals a bucket so you'd need 32 if you're doing them all in one day...

If 8 large planters need a bucket each then you'll have to do a lot of backwards and forward journeys with 2 water bottles.

2 bottles per plant would be nice 16 bottles.

Perhaps just ask how they have been doing this in the past

Collect plastic milk cartons, the 2 litre size. Ask other people to save them for you

Army sized drone, to drop water bombs. Let your local town you mean fucking business with this responsibility.

Sorry

If you go to your local aquarium supply store ( one that does marine fish) they will do 25l drums for £4-5 each. Like these ones.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10L-25L-Water-Container-Drum-Plastic-Jerry-Can-Food-Grade-Safe-Carrier-Tap-Cap/143279889184?hash=item215c259b20:m:m6E96EJ4Fc9bgDId8rH2QSw

I suggest getting a little fodling camping trolley to carry them around unless you are pretty fit

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Load-40KG-Heavy-Duty-Folding-Hand-Sack-Truck-Barrow-Cart-Wheel-Trolley-With-Rope/224023136812?hash=item3428d1ca2c:g:fUcAAOSwgQZeytTe

It’s not a daft question at all...I haven’t a clue! I agree with asking how the previous person did it.

Buy 8x 5 litre water bottles. They are huge. Better still ask on local FB and see if people can donate them to you.
You cant just soak them once per week though. They will be dead in a few days in this weather. They need regular amounts.

I was thinking helicopter wise too Anybody listening escalation is the answer.

These are great for transporting water but maybe see if the tidy towns people will reimburse you so you're not out of pocket. Maybe they already have something like this available for you to use.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bushcraft-BCB-Collapsible-Plastic-Jerry/dp/B001025WEQ/ref=asc_df_B001025WEQ/?hvlocphy=9044988&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=214318306971&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-422793016015&hvrand=11911386225445719044

Our local community gardening group uses a trailer with water tank and a pump. The volunteers drive their own cars and pull the trailer, so all you need is a tow bar and preferably some experience of towing. Maybe yours is similar?

I water one large planter. To water it, I typically use 3 large plastic tubs full of water at a time - I'm watering it twice a week at the moment because of the long hot dry spell. The tap is only 30m away, but it is still a big job (and not very fun).

Watering 8 large planters the way you describe it is not sustainable. You're not getting anything much out of it - no companionship with other gardeners, no joy of watching something you planted grow, no community.

Find out what they used to do before you came along. I suspect they created these planters without any longterm plan of how they would be maintained. But it sounds like they need to use a bowser service - which they may need to pay for, or possibly the council can provide it.

Go on your local Freegle or Freecycle and ask if anyone has large water bottles or a watering can. Virtue is its own reward with things like this, but also you'll get to see the lovely plants.

@SillyCow6 are you on a water meter? Could cost you a fortune if you are.
Definitely ask how they usually transport the water & if they expect you to buy something ask for the money first!

Keep some 4pt milk bottles and fill up a load of them? You can reuse them each week?

The ones I’ve seen watered have been done by one of those big cube things, transported by a trailer. It’s a bit of an ask if you haven’t got the equipment.

Milk cartons are your friend. Or failing that, but less sturdy, 2l pop bottles.