• Monday, October 03rd, 2011
If local governments can’t support urban agriculture, then they need to get out of the way of these community gardens.
Source: Montreal Gazette
There are chickens laying eggs at community centres, volunteer gardeners sharing the work and the harvest in 45 collective gardens across the city, and vegetables growing on top of the Palais des congrès convention centre.
But the blossoming urban agriculture movement is running into municipal roadblocks, say proponents pushing city hall to consult the public about the future of farming in Montreal.
Existing city bylaws make it difficult for people who want to practise urban agriculture to get started. They forbid livestock within Montreal city limits, except for in very limited cases in Rosemont-La Petite Patrie where community groups can get permission to have chickens for educational purposes. People aren’t allowed to dig up their driveways to plant vegetables. Farmers delivering produce for community-supported agriculture projects try to stay on the good side of residents living around their drop-off points to avoid traffic complaints being made to the city. Even people who want to compost in their backyards have gotten into trouble with neighbours complaining to city officials that their compost piles are too smelly…
Montreal has no policy on urban agriculture, although it is included in the city’s sustainable-development plan as a way to help green the city and reduce heat-island effect between now and 2015, said city spokesperson Martine Painchaud.
To get more information about the Groupe de travail en agriculture urbaine petition, go to http://eng.agriculturemontreal.info/
• Saturday, September 03rd, 2011
Source: Montreal Work Group on Urban Agriculture
Many obstacles are slowing the development of urban agriculture in Montreal, including:
- Pressure on land occupancy and use due to real estate development projects;
- The presence of contaminants in certain soils;
- The sub-optimal financing of initiatives and the absence of strategies in favor of urban agriculture;
- The lack of availability of plots in community gardens in central neighborhoods.
In order to contribute to creating a green city, the Work Group on Urban Agriculture proposes a collective mobilization to demand a public consultation on the state of urban agriculture in Montreal.
The Work Group on Urban Agriculture invites all citizens to sign a petition which will support a public consultation on Urban Agriculture in Montreal. The petition must be signed by November 8, 2011. There are many locations around the island of Montreal to sign the petition. Find the location nearest you (n.b. The petition may be signed in NDG at Coop la Maison Verte – 5785, Sherbrooke street West).
If 15,000 Montrealers support this action within less than three months, the City of Montreal will be required to hold such a consultation.
Visit the Work Group’s website for more information or Join the Facebook group.
• Friday, March 18th, 2011
There are some of the best courses available to deal with a collapsing world as we know know it. With the Middle east in turmoil, Japan hanging by a thread and food inflation hitting worldwide, these courses are a good investment of your time.
Our flagship program that will prepare you in finances, transportation, food, health, skills, shelter and more. Take the course with people around the world who are preparing just like you. The material is pre-recorded and you participate in the private forums, which are moderated by an UnCrash Course Instructor.
Having food in the house that you grew plus the knowledge that you can grow more brings some certainty to uncertain times. Learn the quickest way to start a sustainable garden that will feed your family with the lowest cost and the least amount of work.
A well managed flock not only supplies the family with meat and eggs but helps with the work of the homestead: for increasing soil fertility, tilling the garden, controlling problem insects, and reducing dependence on purchased inputs.
As the cheap, abundant oil on which we built our economy disappears, most of the jobs we now hold will no longer exist. Learn the pathways for getting from our current salaries and skills through the transition that is just beginning to supporting ourselves in sustainable, resilient local communities of the future.
Humanity is now facing monumental challenges, some of which is has encountered before and many of which are unprecedented. In this course you will learn emotional tools for navigating the psychological repercussions of transition and individual crisis of meaning in a post-industrial world.
To learn more about these courses and to register click here.
• Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
This event looks to be in French only.
Presented by Toad in collaboration with the Regional Conference Elected officials, the City of Montreal and the Faculty of Sciences and the Institute of Environmental Sciences at UQAM.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in the Grand Hall at 200 Rue Sherbrooke O;
- 5PM Opening Reception – free entry
- On the menu: wine, appetizers and games
- 6:30 p.m. Opening Conference – Free entrance – heart of the Amphitheatre Science UQAM
More info: http://www.coeurdessciences.uqam.ca/acces.html
Topics:
- Towards green cities and nurturing: Prospects and elsewhere
- Patron of the event in Earth City
Speakers:
* Louise Vandelac (sociologist, professor, activist) *
* Vikram Batt (McGill University) *
* Christopher Bryant (University of Montreal) *
* Eric Duchemin (University of Quebec at Montreal) *
* Moderator: Anne-Marie Legault (project manager at the Regional Conference the Chosen) *
This conference will gain an overview on the practice of Urban Agriculture in Montreal and around the world. Gardening class programs to community gardens, through the agricultural enterprises, institutional and home gardening, this presentation will report on the multifunctionality of agriculture in urban areas while considering the constraints and opportunities that are offered today to transform our cities and towns towards a green future.
Guest speakers will help us understand the magnitude and theoretical understanding of this growing movement here in Montrealand elsewhere.
• Friday, March 19th, 2010
This is a great opportunity to get your hands in the dirt this summer, eat delicious fresh veggies grown right in NDG and be part of a great community!
Source: Action Communiterre
- Join a collective garden in your neighbourhood.
- Bring fresh vegetables home to your family.
- Meet other people who share the same interests.
To register, come to one of these meetings:
Thursday April 1st at 6pm
Wednesday April 7th at 6pm
Monday April 12th at 6pm
Tuesday April 20th at 6pm
6244 Sherbrooke West
More Info :
animation@actioncommuniterre.qc.ca
or 514-484-0223
……………………………………….
ACTION COMMUNITERRE
- Jardiner en groupe au jardin près de chez vous.
- Ramener des légumes frais pour votre famille.
- Rencontrer d’autres personnes qui aiment la même chose.
Venez vous inscrire :
Jeudi 1er avril à 18h
Mercredi 7 avril à 18h
Lundi 12 avril à 18h
Mardi 20 avril à 18h
6244 Sherbrooke Ouest
Info :
animation@actioncommuniterre.qc.ca
ou 514-484-0223
