This course It is ideal for beginner urban gardners and urban farmers interested in ecological and social justice.
The CultivAction Urban Agroecology Beginner Course is a welcoming, hands-on introduction to urban gardening and farming for people who are ready to start growing — whether in a backyard, on a balcony, in a community garden, or anywhere food can take root.
Designed for those new to growing, this course builds essential skills and confidence through practical learning and supportive community. No prior experience required — just curiosity and a willingness to get your hands in the soil.
Through biweekly evening sessions, field visits, and guest growers, you’ll learn the fundamentals of growing food in urban spaces: soil preparation, planting techniques, seasonal crop care, watering, harvesting, and garden planning. Each session blends guided instruction with real-world practice so you can apply what you learn right away.
Along the way, you’ll be introduced to agroecology — an approach to growing food that works with nature while strengthening communities. Agroecology emphasizes healthy soil, biodiversity, ecological balance, and the idea that food growing is not just about plants, but about people, access, and care for the land. You’ll begin to see how even a small urban garden connects to larger food systems and community resilience.
Just as important as what we grow is how we learn together. The course fosters a supportive learning community where participants share questions, discoveries, challenges, and the excitement of seeing seeds sprout and gardens take shape. Growing food can feel intimidating at first — but it becomes far more rewarding when done collectively.
By the end of the course, you’ll leave with practical skills, growing confidence, and the foundation to continue cultivating food — and community — in your own space.
Let’s get growing.
Offered in-person at Concordia’s Loyola Campus, the course emphasizes experiential learning and community connection, with minimal commitments beyond class time. By the end of the program, participants leave with the knowledge, practical tools, and ecological understanding needed to begin growing food successfully and sustainably in their own spaces.
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This Course runs biweekly on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., May 12 to October 13. As daylight hours shorten in the fall, class times are adjusted to end earlier.
1. May 12
2. May 26
3. June 9
4. June 23
5. July 7
6. July 21
7. August 4
8. August 18
9. September 1
10. September 15
11. September 29
12. October 13
Intermediate gardeners and farmers are encouraged to enroll in the Urban Agroecology Intermediate Course for more advanced training.
If Tuesday evenings don’t fit your schedule, consider exploring our Online Urban Agriculture Mini Course or our Saturday courses in Senneville.
This course sold out for the last three years in a row – so register fast!
$900
(Register With a Friend and Both Pay Early Bird Rates)
$1000 (after March 23, 2026)
This course sold out the last three years—reserve your spot soon!
As a fee levy contributor, Concordia University students can take advantage of our special subsidized rate and pay just $300 for registration!
Subsidized spaces are limited—register soon!
This urban agriculture course is offered biweekly for the entire growing season.
The course consists of 12 engaging classes beginning in May finishing in October.
The course is for adults of all ages who want to learn how to grow nutritious food in an urban setting.
Whether you are looking to transform your property into an edible garden, learn how to maintain a community garden, or you want to improve your existing gardening skills, this course will provide you with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to support your journey towards becoming more self-sufficient.
No prior gardening experience? No problem!
This course is designed to be accessible, fun, and inspiring for everyone, whether you’re a total beginner or looking to refine your skills.
Dr. Emma Despland will provide a lecture on garden and farm insects, while Justin Krieger from Hive Free Lunch will lead a hands-on workshop on food preservation. These expert-led sessions complement the practical, hands-on learning on the farm, giving participants deeper insights and additional tools to apply in their own gardens, farms, or urban growing spaces.
Erik Chevrier is an educator, researcher, and advocate for socially just and ecologically responsible food systems at Concordia University. He teaches courses including Urban Agriculture, Food and Culture, Food and Sustainability, and Ecological Economics, combining hands-on learning with critical participatory action research to empower students as community leaders, urban farmers, and sustainability advocates.
He has co-founded and co-created organizations, research projects, and educational programs such as the Concordia Food Coalition, Divest Concordia, the Hive Café Co-op, the Concordia Action Research Network (CARN), and the non-profit solidarity urban farming cooperative CultivAction.
Erik also developed an online archive and framework to support food sovereignty on campus, linking research and practice to strengthen equitable, resilient, and ecologically grounded food systems.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Duais, a biologist specializing in plant ecology and phytochemistry, boasts over 17 years of experience in sustainability, agroforestry, and nature conservation. With a focus on projects benefiting marginalized communities and smallholder farmers in Canada and the Middle East, he possesses expertise in university teaching, project management, grant writing, and capacity building.
The CultivAction Farm atLoyola Farm is located at the back of Concordia University, Loyola Campus – TB building.
Address: 7079 Rue de Terrebonne, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1E1.
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