MONTREAL—Cote-St-Luc is taking a proactive approach to the health of its residents. The city already offers programs to keep people physically fit and now it will begin focusing on the nutrition of its residents.
Cote-St-Luc has come out with an urban agriculture action plan built around municipal gardens and edible landscapes.
Right now, Kirwan Park looks like a park, but in a few months’ time the southern end will be tilled and see vegetables ripening in the sun.
Urban agriculture is a trend that is sweeping across North America. As part of its contribution, Cote-St-Luc eventually wants to set up eight public vegetable gardens in parks across the city. It's also setting up a farmer’s market that'll be open on Sundays through the summer and fall.
“It's in order to try to get our residents to have healthier food and healthier lifestyles,” said Mayor Anthony Housefather.
For years, Cote-St-Luc has promoted physical activity.
“We haven't focused on the food aspect. So this year we're going to be introducing two new community gardens. We’re going to be building a teaching garden behind the city hall and library,” said Housefather. “We’re also going to be offering courses in gardening to residents.”
The idea was the brain child of Cote-St-Luc's city manager. Right now the plan is focus on produce, but who knows whether backyard chickens might be in the future.
“We're not looking at animals right now, but it's not a definite no. it's just one thing at a time,” said city manager Tanya Abramovitch.
One of the more innovative ideas is an edible landscape, vegetables grown among the city flowers and fruit trees on city streets—all there for the picking.
It’s all part of building a healthier community.
