Are you a new student trying to meet local student groups on campus? This could be a great opportunity for you to meet the various student groups that help curate diverse student experiences. The Concordia Greenhouse is looking for students who would love to volunteer for our various tabling events that will take place all over campus this semester. Participants must be comfortable engaging groups or individuals and  will be expected to have a basic understanding of the greenhouse and its functions on campus. 

Projected hours: 60 hours 

Duration: Fall semester (September – December) 

Sign up here!!!

It’s What you’ve been waiting for!!
Volunteer sessions will be held at the Concordia Greenhouse, every Monday from 5pm to 7pm. Participants will be given a brief tour of the Concordia Greenhouse space and experience the daily maintenance we conduct to keep our plants and hydroponic systems healthy. You should register to save your place, as the capacity is limited to 8 participants.

Click Here for Sign – up Form

May 21st – 22nd  10 am – 6pm  Location: Concordia Greenhouse   We are very happy to say that the sale will take place in the greenhouse once again this year, and we will be joined by HydroFlora to fulfill any of your house plant needs.   We have grown more than 90 varieties of plants this year, with much expanded offerings of flowers and medicinal plants to keep you and the bees happy and healthy. In order to keep things moving smoothly we are taking orders online and will ask that you select a time to pick-up your seedlings.  Once you arrive at the greenhouse to pick-up your seedlings you can browse HydroFlora’s selections and grab any other seedlings that catch your eye from our remaining stock.  Though we do highly highly recommend that you make all  your necessary selections online as the stock is limited. Thank you for your continued support of the Concordia Greenhouse.  We can’t wait to welcome you back and show you what we have been up to!!

***Click here for ordering form ***

We are going to be taking online orders and appointments for pick – ups ASAP! Check our socials and website for more information!

We have been forced to shut our doors for the past two years due to the pandemic. However, we finally have been given the approval by the university to open to the public. With that said there’s so much to do and say in regard to the Concordia agricultural community. We also have updates on our upcoming seedling sale and CSA baskets via our visiting project CultivAction. Make sure to scroll all the way through to not miss out!!

We are operating under our summer schedule:

Mondays and Fridays (11:00am – 5:00pm )

Meet our Working Groups & Visiting Projects!!!

Co-op CultivAction grows Microgreens in the Concordia Greenhouse which we sell to the Hive Cafe, the Frigo Vert, and to our weekly microgreens subscribers. Our sunflower, pea and radish greens are grown sustainably and hyper-locally by students, with all-organic inputs. Microgreens are some of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, so swing by the Hive or sign up to our subscription to get some on your plate!”

Subscribe Here:
https://cultivaction.ca/projects/microgreens/

CSA Basket Registration

A CSA membership is an affordable and convenient way to get fresh, farm-direct, local produce. Since we don’t transport our produce long distances, we only harvest at the peak of ripeness and flavor. This means better flavor and more nutrient-rich produce for you and your household.
 

              Why sign up for a CSA with CultivAction ?
 

We are urban farmers, students and researchers at Concordia University who are passionate about improving the food system and growing food that is both healthy for our bodies and the planet. Our produce is not certified organic but, we practice eco-responsible farming and only grow pesticide-free and chemical-free produce. We also grow heirloom varieties that you will not find in the grocery store. By becoming a CSA member, you’ll not only be supporting your local economy, food system, and small-scale farmers, you’ll be getting as close to farm-to-table as you can get. 

                                    What is a CSA?

Community Supported Agriculture is a partnership of mutual commitment between our farm and you. CSA Members sign-up in advance for a share of diverse array of vegetables, fruit and herbs that will be available each week from June through November. Our CSA members are vital partners in making local sustainable agriculture possible, as these early payments from means enough money to buy seeds, farm supplies, and plan for labor and growing expenses at the start of the season. 

***Based on the Community Supported Agriculture model, we are offering three fresh food baskets, the Seasonal Salad Basket, the Seasonal Harvest Basket and the Microgreens Basket. Your share of the harvest will be available for pick up each week at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus.
 

Don’t miss out, spaces are limited!

Link: https://cultivaction.ca/projects/csa-community-supported-agriculture/

CultivAction is Lauching a new Urban Agriculture School !

COURSE: Cultivating Urban Greenspaces 

This 13 week urban agriculture course is for adults of all ages who want to learn how to grow nutritious food in an urban setting. Whether you are looking to transform your property into an edible garden, learn how to maintain a community garden, or you want to improve your existing gardening skills, this course will provide you with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to support your journey towards becoming more self-sufficient.
This course is SUBSIDIZED for 20 eligible CONCORDIA STUDENTS by the Sustainability Action Fund (SAF) through the Sustainability Living Lab Funding Program.
Concordia Students can get credit for this course. Contact Erik Chevrier to see if you qualify.

TEEN CAMP: Get up and Grow! 

This camp is perfect for teens who have an interest in food justice issues, horticulture and want to learn how to grow nutritious food in an urban setting. Through a series of workshops, and hands-on activities, teens will practice new skills and gain knowledge about sustainable food systems through farming, composting, nutrition education, and sustainable living practices.  

WORKSHOPS

We are organizing a series of workshops with topics on mushroom cultivation, Seed-saving and Cultivating African Plant varieties and more!  The workshop series will take place on Saturdays. Participants in the Cultivating Urban Greenspaces Course and the Get up and Grow! Teen Camp will have access to these workshops free of charge.

For more info / Registration will be open soon:  https://cultivaction.ca/projects/education/

Hydroflora is a Montreal based community of diverse entrepreneurs united by a vision of city life wholly infused with nature. This vision we aim to realize through a holistic approach: By creating artistic, innovative, and educational growing installations, designing interior vegetation decor and providing plant care services, by teaching educational workshops, and conducting research and development in alternative growing practices and community wellness. We also sell plants in the Concordia Greenhouse! Visit our website and store for more information on our products and services!

Website: http://hydroflora.ca/

Online shop: https://shop.hydroflora.ca/

Hamidou Horticulture is a greenhouse project specializing in marginal and ancient vegetables.

Are you an Afro-descendant, immigrant or multi-generational Canadian? Do you like discovering new vegetables and recipes? Are you a community or urban agriculture project wishing to grow marginal plants in your local garden? We offer healthy plants grown according to organic standards for your culinary needs, your daily life and to share with your neighbors.

We also offer consultation services in the production of organic vegetables.

website: https://www.hamidouhorticulture.com/ 

New Courses Available

**We are starting the second module of our Academy. Sumer courses start June 1st and covers Field Time, Outdoor Plant Care and Pest Control. 

Link to courses: https://www.hamidouhorticulture.com/cours

Greenhouse Seedling Sale

Victoria Day Weekend (May 21 – 23)

Location: Concordia Greenhouse

We are back! The Concordia Greenhouse’s Annual seedling sale is happening again. And we couldn’t be happier! We have been busy in the greenhouse growing all your favorite veggie, flower and medicinal plants for you to enjoy on your balcony or in your garden.
Here is a chart of our seed selection. From left to right we have listed the type of plant, as well as the Latin, English and French names. The below selection is separated by germination date. 

**We will post our prices as soon as possible so please stay tuned to our socials!!

Flower	Celosia plumosa	Celosia Pampas plume	Panache de pampa Celosia
Flower	Callistephus chinesis	China Aster – king size apricot	Aster de Chine
Medicinal	Angelica archangelica	Angelica	Angélique
Flower	Tropaeolum	Nasturiums	Cappucine
Medicinal	Valeriana officinalis	Valerian	Valéraine
Medicinal	Lavenula vera	Lavander	Lavande
Flower	Tagetes	Cracker Jack Marigold	Tagetes “Cracker Jack”
Flower	Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove	Digitale Excelsior mix
Flower	Tagetes tenuifolia	Lemon Gem Marigolds	Tagetes “Lemom Gem”
Flower	Zinnia elegans	Zinnia Dahlia formula mix	Mélange de formule Zinnia Dahlia
Flower	Lobularia maritima	Alyssum – carpet of snow	Alysse – tapis de neige
Flower	Helichrysum bracteatum	Strawflowers	fleur de paille
Flower	Cosmos bipinnatus	Cosmos – sensation mix	Cosmos – mélange de sensations
Flower	Helianthus annus	Sunspot Sunflower	Tournesol “sunspot”
Herbs	Petroselinum crispum	Curly Parsely	Persil frisé
Flower / Medicinal	Echinacea purpurea	Echinacea	Echinancée

9 weeks	9 weeks	Mar 20
Flower	Ceratium tomentosum	Snow in Summer	Céraiste tapis argenté
Medicinal	Lobelia inflata	Lobelia	Lobélie enflée
Medicinal / Herbs	Chenopdium (Dysphania) ambrosioides	Mexican tea	Thé du Mexique
Medicinal	Althaea Officinalis	Marshmallow	Guimauve
Medicinal	Artemisa vulgaris	Mugwort	Armoise commune
Herbs	Rumex acetosa	Sorrel	Oseille
Medicinal	Nepeta cataria	Catnip	Cataire
Medicinal	Hypericum perforatum	St.John’s Wort	Milleperuis
Medicinal	Melissa officinalis	Lemon Balm	Melisse
Medicinal	achillea millefolium	Yarrow	Achilée
8 weeks	8 weeks	Mar 27
Medicinal	Withania somnifera	Ashwagandha	Ashwagandha
Medicinal	Artemisa annua	Sweet Wormwood	Absinthe chinoise
Medicinal	Artemisa absinthium	Wormwood	Absinthe
Medicinal	Tanacetum parthenium	Feverfew	Grand Camomille
Medicinal	Hyssopus officinalis	Hyssop	Hysope
Medicinal	Ocimum tenuiflorum	Holy Basil	Basilic sacré
Medicinal	tanaceteum parthenium	Chamomille	Grande Camomille
Medicinal	Leonurus cardiaca	Motherwort	Agripaume
Medicinal	Urtica dioica	Nettle	ortie
Medicinal / Flower	Inula helenium	Elecampane	Inule aunée
Medicinal / Flower	Calendula officinalis	Calendula	Calendule
Other	Solanum melanocerasum	Garden Huckle Berry	Bleuet de jardin armis
7 weeks	7 weeks	April 3
Vegtables	Capsicum baccatum	Yemen hot pepper	Piment Fort de Yemen
Vegtables	Capsicum chinense	Balcony Habenero	Piment Fort – habanero de balcon
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Red Bell Pepper – Calcom A	Poivron Rouge – Calcom A
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Red Bell Pepper – King of the North	Poivron Rouge – King of the North
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Orange Bell Pepper – Mandarine	Poivron Orange – Mandarine
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Italian Yellow Pepper	Poivron jaune italien
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Italian Red Pepper	Poivron rouge italien
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Iko Iko Sweet Pepper	Poivron Iko Iko
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Bangles Blend Mini Sweet Pepper	Poivron Bangles Blend Minis
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Shishito	Poivron Shishito
Vegtables	Solanum melongena	Snowy Eggplant	Aubergine “Snowy”
Vegtables	Solanum melongena	Ping Tung Long Eggplant	Aubergine – Ping tong long
Vegtables	Solanum melongena	Little Finger Eggplant	Aubergine – Little Finger
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Jalapeno	Piment Fort Japapeno
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Balcony Warrior Cayenne	Piment fort Cayenne – balcon

6 weeks	6 weeks	April 10
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Gordz Cherry Bomb Hot Pepper	Piment Fort Gordz Cherry Bomb
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Poblano	Piment Fort Poblano
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Serrano	Piment Fort Serrano
Vegtables	Capsicum annum	Chinese 5 Color hot pepper	Piment Fort Chinese 5 color
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Andree 3000 – red cherry tomato	Andre 3000 – tomate cerise rouge
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	super sweet – red cherry tomato	Andre 3000 – tomate cerise rouge
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Red grape cherry tomato – Petit Moineau	Tomate cerise raisin rouge – Petit Moineau
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Black cherry tomato	Tomate cerise noir
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Aunt Ruby’s Yellow Cherry Tomato	Tomate cerise jaune – Aunt Ruby’s
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Blondkopchen – yellow grape cherry tomato	Tomate cerise raisin jaune – Blondkopfchen
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Dwarf tomato – Blanche du Quebec	Tomate nain – Blanche du Quebec
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Dwarf wild fred tomato	Tomate nain – Wild Fred
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	San Marzano Italian paste tomato	Tomate italienne San Marzano
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Mountain Princess Tomato	Tomate – Mountain Princess
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Black Prince Tomato	Tomate – Black Prince
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Brandywine Tomato	Tomate – Brandywine
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Savignac Tomato	Tomate Savignac
Vegtables	Solanum lycopersicum	Green Zebra tomato	Tomate Green Zebra
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea	Eastern Magic Broccoli	Brocoli magique de l’Est
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea var. italica	Green Magic Sprouting Broccoli	Brocoli magique vert
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea var. italica	Romanesco Broccoli	Brocoli Romanesco
Vegtables	Physalis philadelphica	Deep Purple tomatillo	Tomatille violet foncé
Vegtables	Physalis philadelphica	Green Tomatillo	Tomatillo vert
Vegtables	Brassica Oleracea	Lancinato Kale	Chou Kale – Lancinato
Vegtables	Brassica Oleracea	Scarlet kale	Chou Kale – Scarlet
5 weeks	5 weeks	April 17
Vegtables	Brassica Oleracea	Vates kale	Chou Kale – Vates
Vegtables	Brassica Oleracea var. gongylodes	Terek Green Kohlrabi	Chou-rave – Terek
Flower	Helianthus annus	Sunflower – Autumn Beauty	Tournesol – Beauté d’automne
Flower	Helianthus annus	Sunflower – Earth walker	Tournesol – Terre marcheur
Vegtables	Brassica Oleracea var. gongylodes	Azur star purple Kohlrabi	Chou-rave – Azur star
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea var. capitata	Famosa Cabbage	Chou – Famousa
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea	Farao Cabbage	Chou – Farao
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea	Red Express Cabbage	Chou – Red Express
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea var. capitata	Savoie Perfection Cabbage	Chou frisé – Savoie Perfection
Vegtables	Brassica oleracea var. botrytis	Janvel Cauliflower	Chou-fleur – Janvel
Vegtables	Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris	Rainbow Chard	Bette à carde arc-en-ciel
Vegtables	Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris	Fordhook Giant Chard	Bette à carde – Fordhook Giant
4 weeks	4 weeks	April 24
Vegtables	Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris	Silverado Chard	Bette à carde – Silvardo
Vegtables	Cucumis sativus	Diva – Lebanese Cucumber	Concombre Lebanese – Diva
Vegtables	Cucumis sativus	Marketmore- Slicer Cucumber	Concombre – Marketmore
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Baby Pam pumpkin	Citrouille – baby pam
Vegtables	Cucurbita moschata	Waltham Butternut Squash	courge butternut waltham
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Zeppelin Delicata Squash	courge delicata zeppelin
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Zeppelin Delicata Squash	courge delicata zeppelin
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Dunja Green Zucchini	Courgette Vert – Dunja
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Costata romanesco Zucchini	Courgette – Costata Romanesco
Vegtables	Cucurbita pepo	Golden Zucchini	Courgette – Golden

We made some changes !

While you were away we took the time to renovate our study spaces. We added some beautiful flowers and ivy along the atrium walls. We also refurbished our Pond Room to accommodate more visitors as they relax and take up the sounds of nature.

We will see you on March 7th!

Due to the recent COVID-19 restrictions, the Concordia Greenhouse is closed for all non-essential visits until JANUARY 20th, 2022, when students are expected to return for in-person classes. We will continue to assess this situation as it evolves. Stay safe and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this trying time, and see you soon!

The greenhouse study space is now open!

Monday – Friday, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, limited capacity.

After over a year of lockdowns we’re finally open! The Atrium study space has been expanded and we’re looking forward to starting up some of our programming again in the near future.

Due to COVID restrictions our capacity is limited. There are 13 socially distanced desks available for studying among plants in a peaceful, warm and sunny environment. We all must remain masked and socially distanced, and the greenhouse vents need to be open in order to meet adequate ventilation guidelines from Concordia University. So if it’s a cloudy and cold day outside remember to bring a sweater!

EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, GROUP VISITS, and so on

Our capacity remains extremely limited for hosting events and gatherings of all kinds in the greenhouse, so please accept our apologies if we cannot accommodate your requests.

THANK YOU!

All of us at the Concordia Greenhouse would like to thank you for your kind messages of concern over the past year, and most of all we are grateful for your patience as we have navigated through the harsh and unexpected challenges the pandemic has thrown our way. We’re coming back to life and are looking forward to having you be part of this vibrant and rejuvenating space again. See you soon!

Now announcing our 2021-22 Board of Directors applicants!

Sarah Larmony – Concordia undergrad student, returning board member.

Sebastián Di Poi – Community member

I’m very interested in joining the Greenhouse Board of Directors. My qualifications include a deep understanding of the Concordia network and way of functioning, extensive non-profit experience including finance, HR, and governance committee work, and positive working
relationships with important stakeholders at Concordia. I’ve always been very inspired by the GH’s work, whether through workshops, working groups, CFS, or the Four Seasons Growing project. It’s been a while that I’ve been looking to get more involved and I believe a role as a
board member would be a great fit.

Having studied at Concordia (2009-2013) and worked at the Concordia Food Coalition (2016-2019) and the Sustainability Action Fund (2019-present) over the past 12 years, I have a thorough understanding of how the university ecosystem operates, which lessens any learning
curve I may have. At the CFC and SAF I’ve worked on the finance, HR, and governance committees – I’ve co-written policies, conducted many hiring processes, employee evaluations, written successful grant applications, and have led board trainings and orientations.
Furthermore, my experience and positive working relationships with committees and individuals in the Concordia administration may present opportunities to garner larger-scale institutional support for essential future projects at the GH.

I believe my experience positions me well to be a valuable board member at the GH. I’d help provide multi-faceted support, experience, and an informed and calm demeanor that’d help
facilitate difficult discussions and decisions.

Nico Schutte – Concordia undergrad student

Hey there, my name is Nico! I’m a genderqueer dude studying sociology with a gender/women’s studies minor. I’d bring both a queer and neurodiverse student perspective to the greenhouse board. Outside of academia, I volunteer and am employed by Greenhound Canada; a non-profit organization geared to fundraise for mental health initiatives and genuine community gardens (not plot by plot rental; everyone grows, everyone eats). I’m motivated to emphasize the mental health benefits of spending time with plants/soil into the Concordia Greenhouse, once open to the public again. My activist interests consist of social and gender justice simultaneous with environmental/climate mitigation because I do not view them as separate entities: they are both rooted in white supremacist patriarchal capitalism. I’d love to somehow link up the Concordia Greenhouse with Greenhound Canada to share resources, marketing, collaborate community events, or whatever can be done to mobilize the mission of bringing environmental and human improvement together. I believe the Greenhouse has the potential to be a setting of community activism and shared space for students to drop the capitalist expectations of operating as a production-based being. For me, the Greenhouse is an oasis from the capitalist pace of life in a metropolitan area, a place I can check my ego somewhat at the door and ~just be~. I hope to pass this feeling to other students who may not be “plant inclined” but are community oriented or those seeking mental rest/clarity along with emotional availability for one’s self as well as those around them. I’m an avid plant collector and this summer, a container gardener. I distributed about one hundred bell pepper plants to friends and neighbors of mine to emphasize food cultivation, divesting in factory farming processed foods, and to instill self-esteem by cultivating your own crop. I’d like to do something similar, in part with Concordia students at the Greenhouse; during the pandemic if possible. Plants are a patient, meditative practice for me and I’d like to share that joy with all who want to participate; why not do it to help unify students while concurrently fostering a space for emotional intelligence and respect for our environment?

Laura Bartlett – Concordia undergrad student

I would like to express my interest in joining the Greenhouse board of directors as part of the fundraising work group. Due to the pandemic, fundraising will be a challenge. However, it remains vital as the Greenhouse needs continued support to thrive and share its vision. Below I’ve outlined five attributes that would make me a qualified
and dedicated fundraiser and contributor to the board at large.

Board of Directors Experience
My experience as a member of the board of directors of the Art Matters festival, the largest student-run art festival in North America, demonstrates that I possess the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions in the name of the Greenhouse. I understand and appreciate the collaborate process the Greenhouse board needs to function smoothly and properly.

Communication Skills
My experience as a salesperson for two years has given me the fundamental asset of knowing how to generate interest around particular events and represent an organization efficiently. With the Greenhouse embarking on several newly developed projects in 2021, it is crucial the fundraising team develops innovative strategic plans so
we can continue to practice sustainable horticulture and educate our community. My year and a half in university has made my writing and editing skills detail-oriented and given me the ability to convey complex ideas clearly. For this reason, my contributions to the writing and editing of grant proposals and fundraising campaigns would help bring the exciting new Greenhouse projects to life.

Creativity
With this year being unprecedently difficult when it comes to public outreach, it is important now more than ever the Greenhouse marketing team is effective. My studies with Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts have gifted me creative thinking skills that would be valuable to the Greenhouse fundraising team in tackling communication barriers the pandemic has imposed. The foundation of my work process is based in observation, inspiration and revision. My own diverse set of artistic hobbies have given me the reputation of being a creative individual who
isn’t afraid to think critically or outside the box. This makes me an ideal contributor to the shaping of new fundraising ideas that align with the agenda of the board.

Time Management Skills
Having balanced a full-time university course load and other volunteer positions, I understand that time efficiency is essential and that others would be counting on me to perform my role as a member of the Greenhouse board of directors. All of my past individual work and volunteer experiences have surpassed a year in length, demonstrating I
am fully committed to the jobs and projects I become involved in. With my third and fourth years of my undergraduate degree still ahead, I hope to gain valuable experience by contributing to the Greenhouse as much as possible.

Passion
During the 2019-2020 school year the Concordia Greenhouse was a welcoming space where I could connect with others and my surroundings. I had already been a plant-lover, but the Greenhouse activities and projects taught me ecological practices and alternatives that have changed my approach to gardening for the better. No longer being able to access the Greenhouse has made me realize how passionate I feel about the organization’s mission to strengthen the urban agriculture movement. The opportunity to work with other passionate and like-minded individuals, across various departments, would be both a learning opportunity and a chance to contribute richly to Concordia and the community of Montreal at large.

Mariel Edwards-Carreau – Community member

I currently work for The Yellow Door, a non-profit in Downtown Montreal that provides intergenerational programming that aims to facilitate the access to resources for seniors. I work as both the administrative coordinator who oversees the financial affairs of the organization and a program coordinator for one of our outreach programs. Previously, I was the financial coordinator of a food co-op, a community garden coordinator and completed City Farm Schools Market Gardening Apprenticeship. I am passionate about community development and sustainability work and have made a career out of using my coordinating and planning skills to serve my community. I have experience with the financial management of non-profits, including grant writing, fundraising and bookkeeping. In addition to sitting on the Board of Directors at The Yellow Door, I am involved in several community committees in the downtown and plateau areas related to development, food security and more recently, COVID19 aid.

I had decided to do City Farm Schools apprenticeship because I wanted to immerse myself into everything related to urban agriculture. I loved the practical skills that I gained as much as how much I learned about sustainability in Montreal. While the work I do now is not exactly in the same field, the values that brought me to the program and the ones I gained from out inform everything I do. I believe that the combination of my involvement with the Concordia Greenhouse through City Farm School and my experience with non-profits, non-profit financial management and fundraising, and board of directors would make me an asset to this one! I would love to be able to apply my skills and experience to work with the Concordia Greenhouse to support their programming as well as participate in either the fundraising or finance work groups. 

Erik Chevrier – Community Member

Hello, my name is Erik Chevrier. I am applying to the Board of the Concordia Greenhouse because I am interested in co-developing urban agriculture programs with likeminded people.

I have a lot of experience with urban agriculture and community food sovereignty. I have also worked with the greenhouse by creating multimedia material and participating in programs at the Concordia Greenhouse.
https://concordiafoodgroups.ca/category/the-concordia-greenhouse/

Here is a list of some of my experience with urban agriculture and food:
1 – I teach the Urban Agriculture course at Concordia University.

2 – I also teach Food and Culture and Food and Sustainability at Concordia.

3 – I am the Chair of the Concordia Food Coalition

4 – I am the co-coordinator for the Duff-Court Urban Farm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxgpS8AjGq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ-8or_Bk7E

5 – My PhD research focuses on developing food sovereign campuses. I specifically looked at the Concordia campus-community food groups as my case study, which included the Concordia Greenhouse.
http://www.concordiafoodgroups.ca

6 – As part of my PhD thesis, I wrote about the history of the Concordia Greenhouse, tracing back to the construction of the Henry F Hall building in 1966.

7 – I am involved in establishing community food sovereignty through other community projects. I am currently involved in mapping the community food groups in Lachine.
http://communautealimentairelachine.ca

8 – I have given conferences about food sovereignty on numerous occasions. You can access my resume here:
https://erikchevrier.ca/about

9 – I can encourage my students to participate in programs at the Concordia Greenhouse
through community service learning assignments.

I hope to join the Concordia Greenhouse team to advance urban agriculture and community
food sovereignty.

Thanks,
Erik

Antonio Alejandro Castillo Moya – Undergraduate student

Hi, I’m Antonio Castillo. I’m an international student from Ecuador who is currently doing his 3rd year in JMSB with a major in management and working on a minor in Sustainability studies. I have loved the different aspects of nature and sustainability ever since I was a kid. Through this,
I always found myself being in areas that were filled with plants. It always made me feel a lot of inner peace and brought me to appreciate my surroundings. In turn, this means that I was always yearning for areas filled with green, which was easy enough in tropical Ecuador but
became increasingly difficult as winter progressed here in Montreal.

Eventually, this brought me to discover the greenhouse as it felt like a home away from home. Ever since then, I knew I wanted to get involved with the greenhouse in one way or another. Sadly I discovered the
greenhouse a little after programs had closed, which left me wanting to take advantage of the next opportunity.

My dream after graduating is to create a company that focuses on producing food in urban settings through the use of hydro/aquaponics. I believe that being part of the board of Directors will give me some of the experience needed for me to accomplish this dream and all the
different intricacies it entails. I consider myself someone who can grasp the details of activities quickly and yet see the bigger picture of these actions. I have ease with reaching out to others for their expertise or help if I require it. Additionally, I have developed a self-sustaining, no waste food production plan spanning 2 buildings with over 50 different apartments.

I am also Director of Speaker relations for JSEC, which allows me to contact various organizations that have focused on making sustainability their goal. This can further increase the greenhouse’s connections to other organizations to promote a shared message about the
environment and quality food.

Zachary Jervais

I am a person who is an avid nature lover. Growing up in the Laurentians of Quebec, I was surrounded by nature my entire life. I have since actively sought out information to better understand the nature that surrounds me. I have spent my educational career learning concepts that have helped solidify my understanding of the local ecosystem by studying graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carleton University. I am currently a Concordia student in Environmental Sciences, which has allowed me to continue to learn about the land that surrounds me while also developing knowledge and skills that will one day hopefully aid me in assisting to preserve this landscape. Having fallen in love with the wild at an early age, I have dedicated my career choices to help one day protect Quebec’s ecosystems.

I am a very sociable person; I try and go out of my way to include others and develop lasting relationships. I also adore education. I love learning, and I love being surrounded by intelligent people as they are beautiful pools of knowledge and perspectives I may not yet see. Combine this, and you get a relatively ambitious person who likes to blab on and on about fun facts. On a hike, I am the kind of person who will not stop talking about how every plant around us is fascinating and may have contributed to Native American practices or has medical uses or is a tasty hiker’s treat. I love spending time in nature learning about indigenous plant species that can be beautiful, educational, and serve a purpose. One specific interest is mushroom foraging, a hobby I have picked up since the pandemic began. It is a fascinating hobby that motivates you to learn so much more about the ecosystem around you with depths of un-imaginable interest.

The pandemic was difficult for me as I was presented with sudden isolation from people that were rather difficult, and I am a very sociable person. Early in the semester last year, I, along with a few classmates, started a discord server for the department of geography, planning, and environment, which served as a great place to socialize despite the difficulties that covid presented. This was not the first time that I was involved in academic leadership as at Carleton University, I founded and was the president of the Carleton Climbing Club (a rock-climbing club), which quickly became one of the most successful clubs on campus.

I am a sociable, passionate person who is in love with learning and teaching, experienced in the management of university associations, who would love the opportunity to be part of yet another amazing initiative. I love plants, love sustainability, and would love to help the Concordia Greenhouse achieve its goals.