Status: COMPLETE March 2018 - September 2019
The Gardens Inside 365 aims to create a model for indoor produce cultivation while simultaneously improving an office environment and engaging the McGill community.
Currently, there is no year-round fresh produce being grown on the downtown campus, and because of that, initiatives like our collaborator the Midnight Kitchen, need to purchase produce during the winter months. The general knowledge of how such production is possible is, therefore, assumed to be lacking. During these same months, the lack of sunlight can have adverse effects on people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), depression, and other mental illness.
Our project will acquire 3 Nutritowers (designed and manufactured by Montreal-based company Nutritower), and house them in OSD office spaces. With volunteer labour from members of the Access Ambassadors (students registered with the OSD who are dedicated to putting volunteer hours towards accessibility initiatives on campus), fresh produce will be cultivated for donation to the Midnight Kitchen for their free-meals initiative. Nutritower will facilitate workshops on maintenance of the towers, and the process of starting seedlings, transferring them to grow-pots, and the on-going care of the vegetation. As a very positive addition, the increased presence of healthy vegetation and full-spectrum grow-lights will create a healthier, happier and more inviting environment for the OSD-affiliated spaces.
