Le jardin communautaire de l’Université d’Ottawa, sur l’avenue King Edward, existe déjà depuis un bon moment. C’est un endroit où les membres du personnel, de la population étudiante et de la communauté de la Côte-de-Sable sont invités à faire pousser leurs propres aliments et à préserver les espaces verts. Tout le monde n’a pas la chance ou l’espace pour jardiner; c’est pourquoi il est très important d’avoir des jardins communautaires qui donnent aux gens la possibilité de cultiver et de se procurer leurs propres fruits et légumes biologiques. L’Université d’Ottawa a récemment aménagé sept jardinières surélevées en réutilisant des matériaux trouvés sur le campus (p. ex., de vieilles bannières de la Semaine des diplômés tiennent lieu de membranes imperméables). Les jardinières surélevées sont des bacs remplis de terre, situés au-dessus du sol, qui servent à faire pousser des plantes. Cette méthode de jardinage comporte de nombreux avantages. D’abord, les jardiniers souffrent moi...

The University of Ottawa community garden on King Edward has been around for some time. It is a place where staff, students, and Sandy Hill community members are encouraged to grow their own food and preserve green spaces. Not everyone has the opportunity or space to garden; it is therefore very important to have community gardens as they give individuals the ability to grow and have access to their organic fruits and vegetables. Recently, the University of Ottawa has constructed seven raised bed gardens, built with the help of some reused materials on campus (old banners from Alumni week are being used as moisture barriers). For those who don’t know, raised bed gardens are elevated boxes filled with soil separated from the ground to grow plants. This method of gardening comes with many advantages. First, gardeners tend to suffer from less back pain because they do not have to bend over as much to do their gardening. It also makes it easier to access if you are in a wheelchair o...

Animal welfare has multiple facets that are received differently by the general public. Veganism, being one outlet of animal welfare, has grown in popularity whether due to concerns for animal rights, personal health, or environmental reasons. Whether you believe in ‘ speciesism ’ or not, human industrialization of the animal agriculture system is one factor driving the climate crisis . It should be incumbent upon the University of Ottawa to take a stand against this industry that is detrimental to non-human animals,  human lives, and the environment. Wide-spread support for the idea of granting rights to animals has not materialized despite arguments dating back decades. As there are many reservations surrounding animal rights activism, the environmental argument for reducing meat consumption could be the key to protecting animals (and seriously who could be against widening the moral circle in an age where Beyond Meat burgers exist?). It seems like the perfect time to begin ...