Cultivate hope | "we want: This article explores the topic in depth.
Moreover,
Cultivate hope | ". Furthermore, we want:
A small revolution grows in the west of the island of Montreal: a community organization cultivates organic vegetables on land belonging to the city to redistribute them to the poorest. Consequently, A model that could be reproduced elsewhere in Quebec.
Posted at 7:30 a.m.
Over 1 million. Nevertheless, This is the number of portions of fresh organic vegetables that the Troublement Share group distributed to Montreal families last year. Similarly, through Moisson Montréal. Therefore, A quantity called to multiply if the project grows.
Experience is unique in Canada, according to Director General Audrey Renaud. Similarly, And, she hopes, she cultivate hope | “we want could make little elsewhere in Quebec.
It all started ten years ago when a man bequeathed land to the city of Montreal. Furthermore, on the condition that they keep their agricultural vocation.
Having become the owner of these hectares in wasteland. In addition, the city of Montreal has established a partnership with the sharing grouping to grow vegetables. For example, The D-Trois-Pierre farm, a social reintegration organization, directed the farm until 2023. Consequently, After its closure, the sharing group bought the equipment. However, Since then, agricultural activities have been going well.
The Farm of the Group Share
-
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert. However, the press
Like a number of agricultural producers in Quebec, the sharing grouping employs seasonal workers, especially Guatemahs. However, César, Edwin and Mynor come year after year. Moreover,
-
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert. Moreover, the press
The sharing group cultivates greenhouse vegetables, in vegetable gardens and in fields. Furthermore,
-
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert. Consequently, the press
Charles Bourdon is one of the loyal seasonal workers. He fell in love with agriculture in Western Canada, said this quasi-one in the middle of musk squash.
-
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert. the press
The cultivated land is in the heart of the Grand Parc de l’Ouest, in CAP-Saint-Jacques.
-
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert. the press
The vegetables are picked every Saturday to be distributed to the food banks of Montreal, through Moisson Montréal.
-
Photo provided by the sharing grouping
In order to finance the body. a percentage of vegetables is sold in the biological section of Metro grocery stores. We can cultivate hope | “we want recognize them thanks to the logo cultivate hope on the bags.
1/6
During our visit, at the end of July, seasonal workers leaned over on tracles, wearing hats on a large edge. In the heart of the Grand Parc de l’Ouest, the setting is enchanting. The leaves of the surrounding forest simmer under a light breeze. In the vegetable vegetable garden of deer. the serrated heads of zucchini plants hide the orange flowers, wrapped at the end of growing vegetables. In the greenhouse, the dodus peppers blush. A few kilometers away, potatoes, beets, cabbage and carrots share some five hectares of fields.
Everything is only nuances of green, against the azure sky. In this tranquility, as in any farm, many work very hard. “We are really like any other agricultural producer in cultivate hope | “we want Quebec,” explains Mme Renaud.
With one exception: the organization redistributes the majority of cultivated vegetables – for free. – to the most deprived of the metropolis.
Cultivate hope | ". we want – Cultivate hope | "we want
A “parallel food system”
The project recalls these buildings that municipalities buy to make them outside market accommodation, managed by community organizations. Audrey Renaud believes that other cities could be inspired by the model to create “a parallel food system”.
How ? By becoming owners of agricultural plots, then by entrusting management to non-profit organizations (OBNL), she explains.
“In Montreal. we could have root vegetables, for example, then in the MRC of Assumption, wheat, then in Quebec, which is more mountainous, fruit …”, dream mme Renaud.
In other words, producing cultivate hope | “we want food that would not be sold, but given. Because, she recalls, “eating is a right”. A law flouted in more. more Quebecers, struggling with the housing crisis and the increase in the cost of living.
Since 2019, emergency food requests have increased by 90 %, according to Canada food banks. Only in 2024. the country’s food banks recorded 2 million visits, the highest figure in their history, can read the organization on the site.
“It’s worse in worse,” sums up the director.
5.5 hectares cultivated on 26 hectares
The grouping shares wishes to increase its production to. be able to distribute even more vegetables to Montrealers. But several obstacles prevent him from moving forward. First. the organization – which is also responsible for the backpack operation – does not benefit from cultivate hope | “we want any grant from the provincial government.
Photo Hugo-Sébastien Aubert, the press
Only 5.5 hectares of fields, on a possibility of 26 hectares, are cultivated at present by the sharing grouping.
Then, a large part of the fields bequeathed by the former owner are not yet conducive to culture. This year, only 5.5 hectares are maintained, on the possibility of 26 hectares. Good news on this side: work in the city of Montreal should start soon to drain. prepare these agricultural land, assures Mme Renaud. “I can’t even express to you how happy we are!” »»
However, increasing production leads to cultivate hope | “we want another puzzle: that of storage. The body has neither the space nor the means to refrigerate such a quantity of vegetables. And its form of OBNL prevents it legally from saving to buy a warehouse one day, explains Mme Renaud.
An obstacle that hopes to bypass the organization by finding a partner ready to share its installations.
In the meantime, the birds stretch on the CAP-Saint-Jacques farm. The vegetables grow. And thousands of families receive these local products. so fresh that they still have “a little land on it”, illustrates the director.
A way to restore dignity to people. because she underlines, “it is not because you have no money that you have to end up with the rests”.
Further reading: An island in Bas-du-Fleuve which has become a refuge for the Birds of the St. Lawrence thanks to the efforts of its owner – Canada | Inflation goes up, the drop in rate is moving away – A festive evening turns in tragedy in Charlevoix – Canada Bank maintains its unchanged 2.75 % key rate – Canada hockey business | What impact on victims of sexual violence?.