The tomato plants have been pulled up, the garlic planted, and the tools put away for the winter. It’s officially time to hibernate and say goodbye to the agricultural workers that graced the farm with their sunny presences this summer. Frankie and Leda, thank you for sharing your knowledge, skills, warmth, and energy with us this year, we will miss you!
As you may know, this year we reduced vegetable production at the farm to leave us time to prepare for the fast-approaching Agroeducational Centre. Nonetheless, the season was full of dedicated volunteers, joyous community farm days, and abundant harvests of five crops of organic veggies for our Meals-on-Wheels program and our partners in food security. We welcomed over 100 volunteers through weekly volunteer shifts and four community farm days, initiated 170 youth to the joys and challenges of agriculture, and harvested over 2,900 kg of veggies. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the wonderful volunteers who came to the farm to pick peppers, seed cover crops, move heavy tarps, prune tomatoes, or drive the shuttle. We love you!
Throughout this transition year, we’ve been working hard to bring the Agroeducational Centre to life. After thorough planning and consultation with community members, we selected the architects in June and have been working with them to complete drawings and plans and secure the necessary permits. This exciting development will deepen the impact of the farm by allowing us to involve more people than ever, whether they’re partners, workshop participants, or children learning about plants. Construction will begin in spring 2025, with the official opening slated for spring 2026.
Scaling down farm production and activities during construction in 2025 will allow us to focus on future programming and partnerships that will inspire people to get involved in creating a more well-fed and socially connected Montréal. Biodiversity at the farm and growing delicious fruits and vegetables are a part of this plan! Stay tuned for updates on the Agroeducational Centre and opportunities to get involved at the farm in the coming year.
See you next spring, and happy hibernating!
Adrienne, Frankie, and Leda – your 2024 farm team