The Jardin Éducatif du Pontiac took a short break from its activities in the garden to grill burgers and sell salads at the organization’s annual summer barbecue on Wednesday.
The salads were made with vegetables from the garden located across the parking lot, and were prepared by employees and attendees of the summer camp, which offers an alternative way for at-risk youth to spend the summer months.
Melissa Langevin, head gardener and a longtime youth worker, said this year’s camp has 16 attendees, adding that they have returned to hiring a small group of the students while others are participants at the summer camp. She said it’s nice to see some of the kids return year after year so staff can see their progress.
“We really see them improve through the years, so that’s really nice, to have that possibility to see them grow,” she said, using the example of one teen who started working at the camp three years ago as a gardener.
“There were some major interventions with this young man, but last year he received an award for his evolution and he came back this summer [ . . . ] This year it’s his third year, now he knows he’s a role model for the youngest,” Langevin said.
Olivia Dyelle, who has worked on and off as a gardener at the Jardin, said she is getting a lot out of the experience, whether it’s growing tomatoes or learning about different plants.
“It’s relaxing. It’s nice, and you get to get some sun, and you learn about a bunch of plants. I used to know nothing about plants before I started working here and now I know a bunch of plants out in the wild.”
Langevin said this kind of experience is common among people who come work at the Jardin. She said many kids come into the summer camp not knowing anything about gardening, and end up with not only gardening skills but also various life skills that can be learned through gardening.
“The confidence that develops, it’s sure that when you work in a garden and you pick up things that you shouldn’t pick up, it can be stressful.”
Langevin, who has worked with teenagers in Montreal and the Pontiac for about 20 years, said among at-risk youth the ‘good news’ stories can be in the minority. But to see that the program is having a positive impact, she said, is rewarding.
“You hear stories from young people who really have baggage that make you say, ‘Young people shouldn’t experience these things.’ So when we have beautiful stories like that, it keeps up grounded in the ‘OK, that’s why I’m doing it.’”
The Jardin has been in the process of constructing a greenhouse for a few years, as well as an adjoining building where it intends to have a food transformation hub, a loading bay and offices. Langevin said while the work is slow to advance, they hope it can be a space used not only by the Jardin but for other community groups and events.
“The barrier is that right now, it’s the director that’s been doing this for a long time. It’s a job in itself, an extra job.”
Jardin director Martin Riopel said the BBQ was a success and thanked everyone who came out to support.
