Urban gardening for a greener Montreal with Sentier Urbain
We’re highlighting the work of our 1% for the Planet partner in Montreal, QC. Discover how Sentier Urbain (French for urban trail) educates and connects Montrealers with nature through urban gardening initiatives, creating green spaces and community gardens. This mission aligns perfectly with what inspires us at Alvéole!
THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY GARDENING IN MONTREAL
How do you combat heat islands in such a big city? By creating green spaces! This is one of the pillars of Sentier Urbain’s mission: working with residents, citizen groups, and organizations to create urban green spaces and transform individuals into change makers. By educating people living in the city, they raise environmental awareness and mobilize individuals who, over time, become empowered and launch their own environmental initiatives.
WHAT IS AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND?
Areas with lots of concrete and densely spaced buildings become hotter than natural landscapes. These spaces are called “heat islands”. They can be unpleasant and even dangerous to the people who live nearby. Planting community gardens in these areas can help cool them down.[Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency]
BEES AND GARDENS GO HAND IN HAND
Three members of our Montreal beekeeping team were already familiar with this fantastic organization and its two integral projects: Circuit Jardins (in Montreal) and the Becs & Jardins visitor center (in Témiscamingue), in addition to the multitude of urban green spaces created throughout the city. It’s easy to see the link between Sentier Urbain’s objectives and our own: like us, they encourage cities to become more connected to nature. Our honey bees also enjoy visiting the green spaces they’ve scattered throughout the city!
“A great organization that offers beautiful examples of urban greening in neglected places in the Centre-Sud and Hochelaga neighborhoods”– Gabrielle de la Durantaye, Montreal Beekeeping Team Manager (Québec)
GREENER CITIES, ONE PLANT (AND POLLINATOR) AT A TIME
Last year, as our 1% for the Planet partner, Sentier Urbain received 1% of our annual proceeds in Montreal. In 2022, our contribution will be even more collaborative! 13 beekeepers from our Montreal team will participate in a full day of volunteer work to help maintain the organization’s urban gardening efforts, including community gardens and greenhouses. Of course, it was only natural to also provide them with a few thousand winged colleagues to help pollinate their urban green spaces and help raise public awareness!
“We will offer two workshops and install and maintain two beehives on their site. We will also run eight guided tours of the hives with citizens from the surrounding neighborhoods and, of course, the Sentier Urbain team. 200 jars of honey will be donated to the organization at the end of the season.”– Gabrielle de la Durantaye, Montreal Beekeeping Team Manager (Québec)
ABOUT 1% FOR THE PLANET
In 2021, Alvéole joined 1% for the Planet, an international movement of organizations that donate 1% of their annual sales to nonprofits working to protect the environment.
