Just steps away from Marché Central, the giant glass bell of Lufa Farms does not go unnoticed. Since 2011, this rooftop greenhouse feeds 10,000 people each week. The concept of soil-less culture also coined hydroponic, is an initiative launched by Mohamed Hage, one of the young founders of this urban farm. He surrounded himself with leading engineers and architects to recreate a system similar to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

Built on the rooftop of a Montreal building, this greenhouse not only represents a valuable floor space but also a flourishing haven. Naturally, the vegetables from Ahuntsic (cucumbers, peppers, and zucchinis) are grown using sustainable agriculture practices, protected by insects circulating with unfettered freedom. Once picked, the produce is delivered the same day to various delivery points including the health food restaurant Autour du Pot, on Chabanel Street.

The direct link between the producer and the consumer allows Lufa Farms to reduce the number of intermediaries as well as packaging and transportation waste. The proximity to organic products preserves the nutritional value and drastically reduces the carbon footprint. A return to this culture system is no longer a utopia nor a step back but progress in our consumption of natural products.

Mohamed is right to refer to older generations of people who consumed seasonal vegetables they cultivated within a small radius. The combination of fun and savings is a guaranteed consideration. You can join the movement of responsible shoppers; all you have to do is fill your basket on the website and select your pickup location.

Living in Quebec since 2012, Diane Martin-Graser found the best way to appreciate Montreal’s patrimony by writing themed articles. Fan of photography since she was 16, she started using silver film first during her stay at Lille. Since then, her focus has been on urban and social perspective. Also collaborating with Une Parisenne à Montreal blog and the 5th season of Printemps Numérique, Diane wants to help you discover the singular atmosphere of Montreal creation with an authentic and original twist.