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Until the early 1950s, there was still farmland, farmers and market gardeners in Town of Mount Royal. The famous Montreal melon has been cultivated here for a long time. Almost 70 years later, the idea of producing local produce in the garden city is coming back again. Decryption of the beginnings of the first urban agriculture policy, adopted last April, with Mayor Philippe Roy.
The famous Montreal melon has long been cultivated here in Town of Mount Royal. PHOTO COURTESY TOWN OF MOUNT ROYAL ARCHIVES (MONT-ROYAL STATION) What changes can we observe with the start of this first urban agriculture policy in the community?
(PHILIPPE ROY) Firstly, our goal is to promote and encourage the cultivation of fruits and vegetables as much as possible. Before this policy was adopted, for example, it was not allowed to grow vegetables in the front yard of a house. It is now allowed! The City is also making its effort by introducing edible landscaping.
(SMR) Exactly, the City has different crops this year, such as herb plantations, edible flowers and vegetables in Wicksteed Park and Jubien Park, and other vegetables like sweet potatoes and kale all over the place. in the city. Are these gourmet flower beds self-service?
(PR) No, we are not (yet) inviting people to come and harvest. Our horticultural service will do the harvest. Depending on what will be harvested, either it will be distributed to residents or it will be donated to a food bank.
(SMR) There is a beautiful urban fauna in Town of Mount-Royal, including a lot of squirrels and rabbits. Could a citizen enclose his vegetable garden in front of his house to prevent rabbits from grazing on his plants, for example?
(PR) The question is interesting. I myself have placed chicken wire around my vegetable patch in my backyard and the animals seem less interested in it. But on the front of a house, there is a challenge. What could we replace the fences with, so that it looks good? This is a question we will ask ourselves. The goal of a policy is to adapt as you go along.
(SMR) What about having fruit trees in Ville Mont-Royal?
(PR) It would be a good idea to have them in the parks. We would have to see how we could do that with the people from our horticultural department, but we did not start this project this year.
(SMR) Do you think that Town of Mount-Royal could become a nourishing city in the long term?
(PR) Yes, anything is possible. There would be larger investments to be made and that would involve having closed greenhouses on flat roofs. In fact, we have several flat roofs in Town of Mount Royal that would lend themselves to this. However, this is not something that is envisaged in the short term, but it is a nice goal to set.
Note: The interview has been edited for brevity.
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