by Stéphanie Talissé
An exciting new project began this year, a community garden plot!
St-James has just been given an open plot at the ‘Jardins Communautaire Centre-Sud’. This garden is very special, as it is the very first founded in Montreal, coming up on its 50th anniversary! The garden was created after devastating fires were erupting through the city, when the firemen were on strike, in 1974. The initiative sought to repurpose the land left in the wake of the fire and in its ashes, create something of growth and hope.
Located only a few blocks away from the centre, the garden is a green oasis nestled in the quilt of our rich and diverse neighborhood; just on the corner of Alexandre-de-Sève and la Fontaine, merely a 5-minute walk away from our front door. We hope to set down our own roots and create our own story of progress.
When we closed the garden for winter, we planted garlic and tulips with eager excitement for our first sprouts in spring. Soon, we will be able to dig into the art of getting our hands dirty, reconnect with the earth, step away from the chaos of the city, and be rewarded with the fruits (vegetables, flowers, and herbs) of our labour. This project will harbor a real sense of responsibility and accountability for care and patience. The members of St-James will have the chance to take charge of initiatives, delegate responsibilities, and work as a team in the best interest of the success of the project.
During our orientation with the garden committee, we were able to meet some key members of the garden’s community who helped guide us and show us around. They were such a helpful group and welcomed us with such warmth and care. Most of them described themselves as being retired and having a lot of time to help support us through this journey. This was very comforting, and exciting to start creating new relationships with our local neighbors.
Throughout the summer, we tended pepper plants, eggplant seedlings, and cherry tomato plants, all generous donations from friends of the center. Now we are in a period of calm, planning, and daydreaming about all that we can accomplish next growing year. We will keep everyone posted on our developments through the St-James social media and in future newsletters!
Happy gardening everyone.