I find her stand calling to me, with those odd-shaped and brightly coloured fungi lounging in a basket, along with an Ali Baba assortment of goodies: fresh homemade soups (vegan and organic versions often available), pickled garlic scapes, hot apple chutney, orange rhubarb salad dressing, and even some wild chaga face cream. Apparently some find […]
Les Jardins Glenorra – a rebirth of the family farm
Ian knew the house from his childhood. Sitting just above the Chateauguay River, his grandmother’s home, with its red brick facade and Victorian-style porch was an idyllic place for his family to come for weekends and vacations. It had been a place of celebration, of family, of community. It had been a place to connect […]
Laperle et son boulanger: a social-militant creating alchemy in bread
Bernard Bélanger never really intended to make bread. At least not at the beginning. He studied hotel management, along with business and human resources. With his focus “sociale mililtante”, Bernard traveled to Guatamala in the mid-1990’s at the end of the country’s civil war, to help the Mayas move back to their lands from their […]
La Co-op du Grand Orme: home, history and community
It was my first time stepping foot into the co-op (yes, I am embarrassed it has taken me so long, yeesh!), and right away I recognized a few “friends” on the shelves: Bread Trade’s Cheap Date (a healthy version of Nutella), McCaig beeswax candles, and Ouistitine stuffed animals. James Maynard, the manager of the Co-op […]
Fermes Valens: a success story in organic entrepreneurship
It was the last night of Markus Ritter’s B&B, when in walks David Lamb with an idea. Both being farmers, he asked if he’d like to sell organic beef in Montreal. The plan was to box up various cuts of beef, freeze it and sell it. A few months later they began. They found an […]
Fromagerie Le Ruban Bleu: more than just cheese
Caroline Tardif, owner of the Fromagerie le Ruban Bleu, is a woman who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk when it comes to living local. In her home they eat 95% local, and all of it organic. She is an inspiration. She also shows how it can be done, and how diverse […]
Verger Biologique Maniadakis
It was like driving along “U-pick” row, sign after sign for picking blueberries, apples, plums and pears. But the only organic one I saw was Maniadakis Organic Apple Orchard (Verger Biologique Maniadakis), with its imposing castle sitting upon the horizon as you turn onto the property. I had done a bit of research before coming […]
Smith Farms natural skincare: upturning the economic downturn
Rebecca Sinclair-Smith has been an acquaintance of mine for a few years. When I started toying with the idea of this blog about a year ago, a friend of ours mentions, “Oh, you should talk to Becky. She and her sister are making soaps and hand creams!” What?! I thought she was a graphic designer? […]
Miel McCaig Honey: a family’s passion for bees
It was almost by chance that Miel McCaig Honey came into being. Penny and Jim McCaig used to buy their honey from a beekeeper down the road from their home in Saint-Lazare. They were curious about how it was made. Life conspired with their curiosity and brought whispers of a beekeeping course being offered at […]
Greg Brooks the Peppermaster: the power’s in the pepper
Canadian-born Greg Brooks arrived in the Bahamas when he was 6. An island paradise, which rewarded him with cuts and scrapes, stings, bites, and sunburns. It was rough going for a pale-skinned Canadian boy in the Bahamian bush. But he loved it anyway, learning about the various plants and spices, and how to spear fish […]
Le Castor Microbrewery: It all started with wood
The first thing I noticed when walking into the Le Castor Microbrewery was the slightly bitter aroma of beer being made. I followed Daniel Addey Jibb, co-founder of the brewery, right through another door to Hamlet, his and his partner’s heavy timberwork company. It was like a portal going from one world to the next, […]
Gill & Kate Bakers: Bringing heart into your home
It was pouring rain at Finnegan’s market, and there they were, smiling and laughing, selling their treasures to passers-by and devout fans. Their laughter was infectious, and soon they had me giggling in the pelting rain, as I listened to stories of homemade ginger beer experiments, Gill’s half-hearted attempt at retirement, and of a friendship […]
Co-op des Bons Voisins
While traveling and living in Europe, one of the things I loved most was finding a spot, a center to my world, where I would meet with friends, catch up on local goings-on and simply feel connected and part of my community. Whether it was traveling to a new town, living in a big city […]
Vergers de Chez Nous: Urban Fruit Picking in the West Island
It was a day for meeting new friends. I had been at the Pointe-Claire market stand talking to Alex of La Ferme du Zephyr. I get introduced to the owners of the Co-op des Bons Voisins (more on them and the co-op in a future posting), and they introduce me to Geneviève Lussier, mother of […]
La Ferme du Zephyr
En route to the farm, as I drive along the sun-speckled tree-lined road dense with late summer foliage, passing the calligraphed street signs, I feel as if I am going through a portal to another world. I had never been to this part of the island. It’s like a hidden jewel. Stephen Homer, owner of […]
Madame Taco
I arrived at le marché de Sainte-Anne just before lunch time and one of the first stalls I came to was “Madame Taco.” Which was a good thing because I was hungry, and even better, I had been craving corn tortillas for weeks. This may seem like an odd thing, but I grew up in […]
Allons Vert
1740 Notre Dame West, Montréal, H3J 1M3 (514) 507-4445 Fax: (438) 381 4878 In-store naturopathic services. Become a member and save 10% on all store items. Monday to Friday: 10am – 8pm Saturday: 11am – 6pm Sunday: 11am – 5pm www.allonsvert.ca
Louise Sans Gluten
475 Dumont, #109 Dorval, Qc H9S 5W2 514-631-3434 louisesgft.com Tues – Thurs: 9h00 to 18h00 Fri: 9h00 to 21h00 Sat: 9h00 to 17h00 Sun – Mon: closed
Marché Branche d’Olivier
2 locations: 4342 Wellington Verdun, QC, H4G 1W4 (514) 768-5930 3437 Notre-Dame Ouest Montreal, QC, H4C 1N9 (514) 938-1818 mahifa.com Mon – Wed : 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM Thurs – Fri : 10:00 AM to 09:00 PM Saturday : 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM to 06:00 PM
Ecollegey
4627 Wilson Notre-Dame-de-Grace, QC H4A 2V5 514-486-2247 www.ecollegey.com Mon – Fri 8:30am-8pm Saturday 10-6pm Sunday 10-6pm
Vert Essentiel
1001 rue Émile Bouchard, #106 Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC J7V 0W3 (450) 732-1827 www.vertessentiel.ca Mon: closed Tues – Wed: 9:30am – 6pm Thurs – Fri: 9:30am – 9pm Sat – Sun: 10am – 5pm
Que de Bonnes Choses
484-D Main Road Hudson, QC J0P 1H0 (450) 458-0558 www.quedebonneschoses.ca Sat – Wed: 9am – 6pm Thurs – Fri: 9am – 7pm
Marché Bleuet
2733 Notre Dame Ouest Montreal, QC H3J 1N9 514-507-2404 www.marchebleuet.com Mon – Tues: 11am – 7pm Wed – Fri: 10am – 8pm Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 11am – 5pm
Bio Terre
201, rue Saint-Viateur O Montreal, QC H2T 2L6 514-278-3377 www.bio-terre.com Mon – Wed: 9am – 8pm Thurs – Fri: 9am – 9pm Sat – Sun: 9am – 7pm
Le Panier
274 Lakeshore Pointe-Claire, QC H9S 4K9 (514) 695-7038 www.thepanier.com Mon – Wed: 10am – 6pm Thurs – Fri: 10am – 9pm Sat: 10am – 5pm Sun: 11am – 5pm
C’est la Vie Naturellement
3 locations: 1584 Laurier Avenue Montreal, QC H2J 1H9 (514) 528-9559 5329 Parc Avenue Montreal, QC H2L 3M8 (514) 312-1345 4050 av du Parc Lafontaine Montreal, QC (514) 528-8989 www.facebook.com/cestlaviemarchebio/ Ave Laurier and Parc Lafontaine store hours: Mon – Fri: 9am – 8pm Sat – Sun: 9am – 6pm Ave Parc store hours: Mon – […]