The Vegetable Garden and the Orchard
Located between Saint-Mathieu and Guy Streets, the vegetable garden and orchard occupy an area of approximately two acres. Until the 1960s, many Nuns work there assisted by hired labourers. A wide variety of vegetables and fruits are grown but despite the abundant harvests it is not enough to feed the Motherhouse residents.
Vegetable garden, circa 1930. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Motherhouse (Montréal)’s Fonds, L082-H-1-65-55
Vegetable garden, circa 1890. Photography: William Notman. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Motherhouse (Montréal)’s Fonds, L082-Y-006
Motherhouse gardens in Chez nous (Our Place) (extract)/Sister Flore Barrette, s.g.m., [195-196-]. Film 8 mm. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, F054A
Garden produce, 1893-1894. Manuscript. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, General Administration’s Fonds, G04-C-2-1-85
“When we were short of vegetables, the Sulpician priest Antonio Pricourt, p.s.s., [chaplain of the Motherhouse], would bring us vegetables from his brother’s farm.”
Testimony of Sister Claudette Ménard, s.g.m., collected at Square Angus (Montréal), the 28 November 2023
Garden produce, 1903. Manuscript. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, General Administration’s Fonds, G04-C-2-1-85
With the growth of industrial food production, the garden is gradually abandoned and redeveloped into a flower garden. A few of the last Nuns at the Motherhouse continued to cultivate fine herbs and tomatoes until their departure.