How a Quebec community is setting the standard for urban gardening

Victoriaville, Que., has long defended its title as the greenest city in the province.

It was one of thefirstmunicipalities in the province to implementdoor-to-door composting back in 1998 and offers incentives for ecological home construction materials.

''People tell us they move toVictoriavillebecause they want to adhere to the movement that is happening here,'' said city manager MartinLessard.

Lessardsaid the city of 45,000, 170 kilometresnortheast of Montreal,has invested more than$8million to refurbish thedowntown core and make it a place residents want to spend time in.

Victoriaville has set itself a new goal for 2017: to install 100 shared garden boxesthroughout town.

It was awarded a $15,000 grant from theCommunity Fund for Canada's150th in order to realize that initiative.

The wooden boxes, equipped with signs letting people know the produce is for the taking, are set up on people's front lawns, at restaurants, and in other public spaces.

• Garden battle: Quebec City woman told she can't grow veggies in her front yard

Green lettuce instead of green grass

SophieLegaultsays adding a box to her front yard was a great way to spend more time with her neighbours.

''People are always stopping byto ask questions. We have to convince them topick the tomatoes when they're ready,'' she said.

Legault is no stranger to the urban gardening trend. Amidst the green lawns and asphalt driveways of her residential neighbourhood, tomato plants, grape vines and rows of vegetables cover more than half ofher front yard.

''There are huge maple trees in the back of thehouse that block the sun and have thick roots,'' she said, explaining thatthe front of the house, which gets full sunlight, is more suited for a garden.

Legault'ssons,JasminandPhilmon, are responsible for gathering the eggs from the backyard hen house every morning.

While many cities are still grappling with the concept ofurban agriculture,LegaultsaysVictoriavilleencourages it.

''We see how far food is travelling, we see the damage that comes with the industrial food industry, and we cannot completely stop it,'' she said.

''But if have a few plants anda few fruit trees instead of just pretty trees we can becomemore self-sufficient.''

Reconnecting with food

Another hallmark of the city's commitment to urban gardening is "LeJardindesrendez-vous,"a collective space that transformed a busyindustrial street corner into a vibrant nature park.

''We grow tons of veggies; from cabbages tozucchinis totomatoes,and everything that is in the garden is free for the picking,'' saidViola Ferrando, an organic agriculturestudent at theCgepdeVictoriaville who works at the garden.

Born in Montreal,Ferrandosaid kids are amazed to actually see where their food comes from and what itlooks like on the stalk.

"It allows us to reconnect with what it means to nourish ourselves."

The city collaborated withlocal groupIncredible Ediblesto set up the garden. Students likeFerrandospend a few hours a week greeting people and giving them gardening tips.

Residents can stroll through three separate sections: an organic orchard, a forest garden with indigenous medicinal plants and a giant communal garden.

Citizens are also encouraged to help take care of the garden and learntechniques.

Ferrandosaid it's all part of the city's desire to beautifypublic spaces, but also put them to good use.

''You can't feed people with roses,''saidFerrando.

Spreadingthe word

The city is throwing a party at thegarden Sept. 17 as part of its Canada's150thcelebrations.

L'Incroyableftedesrcolteswill celebrate the city's abundant harvest and hopesto attract evenmore residents to the concept of urban gardening.

The city willbe hosting itsfourth forum on sustainable developmenton Sept. 5 to 6, where it invites municipalities from across Quebec to share good practices and develop new ideas.

• How communities across the country are celebrating Canada's150th