THE VA GARDEN
On November 3, 2023 Sylvia Rack hosted a workshop in the gardens outside the Visual Arts Building at 1395 Rene Levesque Blvd, in Montreal, Quebec.
The VA garden is unique in that it is the only outdoor space for students to enjoy nature within all of Concordia University’s downtown campus.
"I walk by the garden on a regular basis and had never given it any attention. giving us a handout with a contributive spreadsheet allows us to dig deeper in our relation with the space."
-Nathalie
Before the workshop Sylvia spent several hours identifying and cataloging the plants in the VA garden, then created a handout with the garden map on the front and a QR code on the back to look up plant information.
Students could instantly check if the plant was native or introduced, invasive or naturalized, which butterflies and insects used the plant as a host for food or nesting, and whether the plants had an herbal, medicinal or culinary value.
Fifteen students foraged and explored the gardens, then returned back to the classroom for a brief drawing demonstration. After which everyone drew a botanical sketch.
Students expressed feeling a deeper connection to a piece of nature they pass by everyday, and a better understanding of how plants can be used within urban environments to sustainably strengthen ecosystem function and biodiversity.