At the Drummondville community center, children and seniors are plunging their hands into the soil thanks to an intergenerational garden project that goes far beyond vegetable production.
A small group of volunteers prepares the land and the garden containers near the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Community Recreation Center (CCRSJB) in Drummondville. They use a little ash and dead leaves picked up in the fall – elements that help give a better harvest while polluting and working less, they point out enthusiastically. Everything must be ready. In a week, they will sow the seeds with children from the city.
In a small space between a brick wall and a gate, you can read the name of the place, Jardin’Âge, on a rustic wooden gate. Here, the community center’s intergenerational garden is kneaded by green thumbs of all sizes. Since 2020, children, parents and grandparents have been invited to participate in various activities, such as planting seeds or taking courses in agroecology. Throughout the summer, children from the city’s day camp and, soon, daycare services, make visits to get their hands dirty or taste different vegetables. The gardens are maintained by a team of volunteers made up of retired people.
Sharing knowledge is important, believes François Chabot, one of the garden’s volunteer leaders. nicknamed “the Druid” for his knowledge of agroecology. “Maybe I missed my teaching career, so here I am recovering! he said with contagious enthusiasm. And then, it’s not true that children don’t like vegetables, we even ran out of flowers during the nasturtium tastings! A 10-year-old child who says he doesn’t want to come [au jardin], but who, in the end, announces that he likes it with stars in his eyes, it’s wonderful to see. »
“It’s more and more in the values, to show children how vegetables grow,” continues Mr. Chabot. Often, children forget nature, they don’t know it. The more you know about nature, the more you love and protect it. »
Drummondville’s intergenerational garden is also becoming a platform for putting into practice methods that are more harmonious with the environment. “When you arrive in a garden, you shouldn’t look at the biggest tomato, but rather see if there are bees, life,” says François Chabot. The Jardin’Âge team has already installed a nesting box and a bath for birds, two insect hotels, shelters for toads and wishes to add a butterfly hotel.
In the spring, the volunteers give a few courses in agroecology, accessible and free for all city dwellers. One of them is suitable for families and children. Course participants can then share their experiences on a private Facebook page, used as a community forum.
A flourishing initiative
From year to year, the project is refined. To take advantage of the small land, we exploit the vertical surfaces, the fence becomes a support for vegetables such as beans. This year, raised gardens will make it easier for people who have difficulty working on the ground. Next season, a workshop on fertilizers will enrich the agroecology courses. The community center also wants to include more children from early childhood centers (CPE). The formula has been so successful that it is now necessary to select the volunteers who wish to invest in the adventure, illustrates François Chabot.
“I came with my children to do plantations. My son didn’t want to go, but then he didn’t want to leave, he learned a lot of things with his hands in the ground, appreciates Mélissa Meloche, coordinator of community activities at the CCRSJB. This creates a sense of belonging and achievement. My son planted sunflowers, and when he walked by in the summer, he was so proud! »
“I myself learned gardening from my grandparents,” says volunteer Sylvie Rouleau. We come daily for watering and there are always people passing by and asking questions. We share with the general population. In the municipalities, it’s something that can be integrated easily and which will attract people’s interest. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.