Les Urbainculteurs are working since 2009 toward the development of a productive and accessible agriculture, adapted to the urban context. On rooftops and terraces or directly in the ground… we cultivate the city!
Our vision
We dream of a green and nourishing city, productive and enjoyable, fully rooted in its time and ready to face the challenges of the future. Convinced that the changes needed on a global scale must be initiated at the local level, we are working to develop an ecological and accessible agriculture, adapted to the urban context. One garden at a time, we change our living environment, promote biodiversity and produce fresh, healthy and ultra-local food.
Our mission
Every hour we work, we dedicate it to the promotion of gardening and urban agriculture by:
Taking Action
We believe that the best way to demonstrate the benefits of urban agriculture is to put it into practice. Every year we design, plant and maintain several urban vegetable gardens, in pots as in the ground, and even on rooftops.
Raising awareness
In our wildest dreams, every citizen has a vegetable garden, every business adds green to its space with edible plants. To make you see life in green, we share our passion in conferences and training, in our newsletters, our podcast and here and there on the web.
Offering products
Farming in the city has its own constraints. In order to give you a hand, we offer concrete solutions to grow in the city, small, medium or large scale. In our shop, you will find products adapted to the urban environment, of which 100% of the profits serve our mission!
You share our mission? You want to support us, while enjoying various benefits?
Become a member of our organization!
Our values
Les Urbainculteurs favors a collaborative and altruistic approach, putting forward the sharing of knowledge and partnerships. Their actions are always aiming for excellence, innovation and consistency. By working to green the urban space and produce food locally in an ecological approach, they are committed to reducing their negative impact on the environment and maximizing their positive impact. The organization also aims for financial autonomy and a greater freedom of action.
Working at Urbainculteurs means working in an open and flexible environment, where all are welcomed and valued for their strengths. Mutual aid and solidarity unite the team and allow it to accomplish an impressive number of projects each year. Above all, working at Urbainculteurs means having the space to grow, explore, innovate… while having fun!
The benefits of
Urban agriculture
Why practice urban agriculture? There are many benefits!
- Green and beautify the surroundings
- Eat fresh, healthy and local
- Reconnect with nature, seasons and the origin of food
- Reduce the transport-related pollution of food
- Participate in the fight against urban heath islands
- Contribute to biodiversity
- Promote food security
- Create social ties and share knowledge and crops
- Learn an essential knowledge
- Take action for a sustainable development, by a gesture that has a strong potential for media coverage
- Promote a responsible consumption and a local, ecological production
Bread-and-hummus-based diet
Defuses problematic situations with sensitivity
« OK, d'accord »
Johann Girault
General director
Johann (pronounced Yoan) is always imagining new projects while ensuring that those in progress are carried out. In addition to leading our organization in urban agriculture, he is co-owner of Les Jardins de la Mescla, an organic vegetable farm. It seems like he is not busy enough, because he also finds time to play soccer. Johann is also trained in nonviolent communication and is a mediator in the cohabitat where he lives.
In his pocket: A bachelor’s degree in agronomy, an MBA in corporate social and environmental responsibility, and… chocolate.
Bursts out laughing... and apologize right after
Being as energetic as if she was on a sugar high
Dreams about 40 000 projects in her head
Vicki Duval
Coordinator – Operations
Trainer and speaker
Garden plans, customer relations, supervision… Vicki is an extension of Marie-Hélène J.’s brain! She even shares her interest in handicrafts and textiles. After passing at Santropol Roulant, AmiEs de la Terre, Nature Québec, Ateliers à la Terre and Ferme Bédard Blouin, we can say that she is passionate about project management, community organization and urban agriculture! Radiant with good humor, Vicki is spontaneous, dynamic and entrepreneurial.
In her pocket: A bachelor’s degree in anthropology, a diploma in horticulture… and surely an origami crane!
Marie-Hélène Dubé
Coordinator – Communications and human resources
Mâche-patate Co-host
Marie-Hélène is honored to showcase our projects and spread urban agriculture! Playing the roles of community manager, editor, content creator, podcast host, event planner, webmaster and graphic designer, she gets involved in just about every project. She also ensures the coordination of our various activities and that everyone can flourish at work. When she’s not admiring the genius of nature, she can be found with her nose in a book or worrying about the hundreds of things she’d like to learn.
In her pocket: Studies in arts, human sciences, religions, public relations, sustainable development… a tortuous path!
Listens to you even if she knows more about it than you do
Reminds us of our goals at meetings that go in all directions
Runs after time to live all her passions
Dominique Manny
Project, multimedia and supply manager
Mâche-patate Producer
Dominique is our project manager and human-Swiss knife. He supports MH Jacques and Vicki in project management, while being in charge of distribution and online orders. Armed with his camera and his bike suit, he is also the eye behind the lens and our favorite director-cameraman-sound-technician-editor. When the “damn technology” gets in our way, he is the geek who solves everything with a smile.
In his pocket: A bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental sciences. And his camera, of course.
Peels his daily carrot
Has a fit of laughter that makes everyone laugh
Comes to work cross-country skiing
Official provider of funny expressions
Feels sleepy after lunch
Tours the finest restaurants
Marie-Andrée Asselin
Horticultural manager
Trainer and speaker
Mâche-patate Co-host
Marie-Andrée has worked as a horticulturist for the Urbainculteurs since 2015. She takes care of the plants as well as of the conferences and training she gives. She’s also our #1 horticultural reference. Since Summer 2019, she co-hosts Mâche-patate. Outside of work, if you don’t find Marie-Andrée running, cross-country skiing or drinking an IPA on a terrace, she is probably knitting… or dying wool with MH Jacques for their project Couleurs locales.
In her pocket: A past as an archivist (and a bachelor’s degree in Ancient Studies), as well as a collegial diploma in horticultural production.
Master of Arts in Végépâté
Goes from playing the violin to drawing to gardening...
Always stays chill
Rosalie Beaucage
Awareness officer
In her pocket: A diploma in Letters, a baccalaureate in literary studies and perhaps a big bouquet of chard that she brings back to home by bike.
Audrick McManiman
Social horticulturist and carpenter
Audrick is one of those candidates we couldn’t help but want to meet right away when we saw his resume. Combining horticulture, education and social work, his multidisciplinary profile and his love of people lead him to take charge of the volunteering on our urban vegetable farm project. In true handyman, he also inherited the tasks of carpentry and builds beautiful gardening containers for us!
In his pocket: A baccalaureate in social work, multiple certificates, a course in home aquaponics and always a penknife (for non-violent reasons, such as peeling an apple or cutting string).
Gets mixed up with words or phrases
Offers or asks for a helping hand
Grits his teeth when seeing something cute
Marie-Hélène Jacques
*On maternity leave*
Operations director
Trainer and speaker
Mâche-patate Co-host
Delving into her knowledge of edible perennials and permaculture as fast as into her expertise in project management, Marie-Hélène directs our operations with enthusiasm and attention to detail. Her incredible adventures are matched only by her impressive resume, which makes her both the most likeable and reliable leader we can have. We’re lucky she does not pursue one of dozens of other careers that interest her! She also leads the project Couleurs locales with Marie-Andrée.
In her pocket: A baccalaureate and a master’s degree in biology, but no phone because she forgot it somewhere.
Adds sriracha on everything
Has favorite plants
Gets excited about the last Radiolab episode
Board of directors
Hubert Corbeil
MBAPresident
Advisor to the general direction at TELUQ University
Lecturer at Université LavalVéronic Dufour
M. EnvVice President
Strategic sustainability leader at Optel
Sandrine Jouis
M. ATDRSecretary
Agritourism development officer at Québec, région gourmande
Anabelle Dubé
Administrator
eCommerce strategist at Novatize and Marketing consultant
Véronique Samson
Administrator
Urban planning advisor, Sustainable Mobility team at Ville de Québec
Mélissage Bélanger
DT.PStudent Administrator
Candidate for a master’s in nutrition and student for a certificate in horticulture and green space management at Université Laval
Do you want to lend a hand?
Send us your application to join our board of directors. You can also become a member of the Urbainculteurs!
Co-founders
Mrs. Eisenmann and Mr. Denault founded Les Urbainculteurs in 2009. After eight seasons of passion and hard work, they chose to dedicate themselves to other projects. Since January 2017, Mr. Johann Girault has been replacing them as General Director.
Marie Eisenmann
Co-founder
Francis Denault
Co-founder
