The West Island Mission has initiated its agricultural efforts on a Senneville, Quebec lot, leased from the Morgan family, as reported by CTV News and captured by Christine Long.
Urban agriculture is transforming underutilized green spaces into flourishing vegetable gardens, contributing to local food banks like the West Island Mission with a bounty of fresh produce.
From May to October, crops are planted and harvested to ensure that the clients of the food bank, located on Labrosse Avenue in Pointe-Claire, receive a regular supply of nutritious, organic vegetables.
This marks the inaugural year of West Island Mission's agricultural venture in Senneville, boasting a sizable 2,000 square feet – the largest among its 120 plots and planters scattered across the West Island.
Jack Jones, the operations manager for West Island Mission, emphasized the cumulative impact of these gardens, stating, "It works out to be a lot of really nice greens."
Every green space is meticulously utilized, extending the growing season to accommodate three to four harvests before the onset of frost.
"We grew a whole bunch of lettuce, it timed out perfectly for the fall harvest. Lettuce, radishes, zucchinis, bok-choy, arugula—things that do well in colder weather," shared Jones.
The produce, picked at its peak twice a week, is promptly delivered to the food bank.
Suzanne Scarrow, the executive director of West Island Mission, highlighted the collaborative effort, stating, "We have stuff that's coming in from Fritz Farm, from the city farms, so we put all that together, and it's weighed and measured at the West Island Mission. So by the end, it should be close to eight to 10 thousand kilos, and next year, we hope it will be even more than that."
Replacing grass with gardens is the focus of Urban Seedling, a Verdun-based company that plants high-yield gardens in underutilized green spaces on both private and public land.
Co-founder Shawn Manning explained their philosophy, saying, "That space can be better used to grow food and help people who are having a hard time these days." The company's mission revolves around planting "edible oases" where patches of grass once stood.
For Manning, giving back is a personal mission influenced by his upbringing in food insecurity and the inspiration of Father Emmett Johns, the founder of Dans la Rue, a shelter and support organization for Montreal youth.
"To be able to have that positive impact is so important to me. I grew up in food insecurity, and Father Emmett Johns was a huge influencer," Manning reflected, recalling Johns' visits to his house before starting Dans La Rue.
The hope is that, gradually, these urban gardens will cultivate a spirit of generosity among neighbors, providing for those in need.
