Food Ecosystem Workshops

Come deepen your knowledge of the agricultural and food cycle ecosystems. This series of workshops is the occasion to invite science to your table. Ecology, microbiology and genetics are on the menu!

Francois-Xavier Dessureault of the Roulant’s Composting Collective, and biology student at Université de Montréal, invites you to explore food and agriculture through the eye of a biologist in this series of workshops. Each workshop will consist of a short class followed by a practical component or discussion, in a fun and informal atmosphere. A different theme is explored each week, and it is not necessary to attend all five in order to understand the next.

Space is limited so please contact Francois-Xavier by email to confirm your spot for one or more workshops.

The workshops

*Note that some dates have changed!*

Workshop #1: The Seed: a Cultural and Genetic Heritage under Threat
When: Saturday November 12^th, 5:30-8:00 pm in English / Monday November 14th, 5:30-8:00 pm in French
Summary: Separating wheat from chaff…this simple gesture, repeated countless times over millennia, has had a profound impact on our food. From ancestral plant breeding techniques to GMOs, we will explore our relationship with plants before trying out a few methods of seed sorting and saving. Bring some seeds or fruit from your garden!

Workshop #2: Thermodynamics for Dummies: the Great Cycles of Matter and Energy
When: Saturday November 19^th, 1:00-3:30 pm in English / Monday *November 28th*, 5:30-8:00 pm in French
Summary: In nature, nothing is lost, nothing is created, and yet we humans create waste. We are clearly doing something wrong! Thankfully there are solutions, as a hands-on guided tour of the Roulant’s vermicompost facilities will demonstrate.

Workshop #3: The Soil, a Jungle Underfoot
When: Saturday November 26^th, 1:00-3:30 pm in English / Monday *November 21st*, 5:30-8:00 pm in French
Summary: A whole world in a grain of sand? This is nothing new to plants! Come discover the fascinating universe of the ground we tread every day, followed by techniques to evaluate and improve your soil’s fertility.

Workshop #4: The Food Microcosm
When: Saturday December 3rd, 1:00-3:30 pm in English / Monday December 5th, 5:30-8:00 pm in French
Summary: Bacteria, fungi and other microbes: at once precious allies and sneaky enemies for the gardener and the cook. This workshop will explore both roles of these invisible creatures; bring your jars if you want samples of sourdough, kombucha or sauerkraut!

Workshop #5: Two Green Revolutions Later, Where Is Our Food System Headed?
When: Saturday December 10^th, 1:00-3:30 pm in English / Monday December 12^th, 5:30-8:00 pm in French
Summary: After the « Green Revolution » of industrial agriculture and the rise of organic farming, is it time for a truly agro-ecological revolution? We will review our current food system’s shortcomings and the potential solutions found in the permaculture approach. The second half of this workshop is a guided discussion, to give everyone the tools to make their lives greener and more nutritious.

For any questions about the workshops or to register, please contact Francois-Xavier by email. We hope to see you there!

Above photo by Alex Tran, www.alextranphotography.com