What is Happening at Herbert-Outerbridge Park this Summer?
With the necessary equipment and a project already organized for several years by the Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CJE NDG) in collaboration with Parents Engagés pour la Petite Enfance (PEP), we have been offered the opportunity to establish ourselves at Herbert-Outerbridge Park for the summer. Our mission is to create a friendly and family-oriented atmosphere to enhance the park's sense of safety. We are also committed to providing a resting area for our pollinators, enabling them to improve their role in fertilizing nearby plants and vegetables. Due to a late start, our focus will be on cultivating herbs and microgreens using the greenhouse. We want to offer a secure space for families who do not have access to a garden near their homes.
What is the Digital Garden?
The Digital Garden is an innovative initiative aimed at transforming our neighborhood into a sustainable environment where nature and technology converge to strengthen social connections, support personal development, and promote a balanced lifestyle. This initiative aspires to enhance community well-being while advancing sustainable development through its social, economic, and environmental components.
Enhancing the Urban Environment
The Digital Garden integrates strategically placed green islands to mitigate urban heat island effects. By cultivating aromatic plants, the project aims to create habitats for pollinators and improve the living environment for residents. According to the City of Montreal, green spaces contribute to enhancing thermal comfort (Source: City of Montreal). The establishment of a greenhouse by the Quebec-based company Ma serre, serving as the project’s central hub, provides a versatile space for educational activities and collective cultivation, thus contributing to a more pleasant and sustainable environment. Greenhouses also extend the growing season for plants, thereby reducing the need for transporting agricultural products and decreasing associated greenhouse gas emissions (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
Community Engagement and Safety
Active involvement from residents is fundamental to the Digital Garden. The project encourages participation from individuals of all ages and skill levels by organizing regular volunteer events and enlisting volunteers and partners for the design and management of the space. The objective is to cultivate and share. Research indicates that neighborhoods with high levels of collective engagement experience reductions in crime and enhanced feelings of safety (Source: Journal of Community Psychology, 2018). The creation of accessible and well-lit green spaces aims to bolster safety and well-being in the neighborhood. The active engagement of residents also contributes to natural surveillance and deters undesirable behavior. The garden promotes social interaction and sharing, thereby strengthening social cohesion and community fabric.
Personal Development and Inclusion
The Digital Garden supports personal development through programs on gardening, waste management, and digital skills. Research demonstrates that participation in gardening activities improves mental health and overall well-being (Source: National Institutes of Health). By emphasizing collective gardening and sustainable practices, the project advocates for an environmentally conscious lifestyle. It also enhances community belonging through intercultural activities, collaborative artistic projects, and intergenerational programs, thereby enriching social and cultural connections among residents. Cultural diversity is celebrated through collaborative artistic endeavors, fostering intercultural dialogue and inclusion.
In Summary
The Digital Garden is an initiative dedicated to improving the quality of life in our neighborhood by integrating nature, technology, and community engagement. By creating green spaces, enhancing safety, and supporting personal development through educational programs, this project transforms our urban environment into a sustainable and supportive space. The environmental benefits, such as mitigating urban heat islands and promoting sustainable agriculture, along with social and economic advantages like enhanced community well-being and increased social interaction, underscore the positive impact of the project. This summer, the Digital Garden will also be realized at Herbert-Outerbridge Park, bringing a welcoming atmosphere and practical gardening solutions. It provides not only beautiful floral displays but also fosters social connections and a prosperous future for all residents.
National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Article : Gardening and Mental Health Benefits
Summary: This article from the NIH explores the mental health benefits of gardening, highlighting how participation in gardening activities can improve psychological well-being and reduce stress.
Journal of Community Psychology (2018):
Article : Community Engagement and Crime Reduction
Summary: This article examines how community engagement contributes to crime reduction and improves neighborhood safety, focusing on the links between civic participation and decreased criminal behavior.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
Article : Heat Island Effect
Summary: This page from the EPA provides information on the urban heat island effect, explaining how green spaces and reflective technologies can mitigate this issue and improve local climate conditions.
Article: Urban Heat Islands and Greening Solutions
Article : Les îlots de chaleur urbains et les solutions de verdissement
Article: Urban Heat Islands and Greening SolutionsSummary: This document from the City of Montreal details how green spaces help mitigate the effects of urban heat islands and improve thermal comfort in urban settings.
