Jimmy Videle, a market gardener from Boileau, has published a gardening book which is experiencing great success in Canada. On the shelves since February 2022, The Veganic Grower’s Handbook is aimed at amateur gardeners who would like to depend less on animal manure to grow their nutritive vegetables. In 2015, the author and his partner Mélanie Bernier created the Ferme de l’Aube – an experimental farm whose calling is education and the production of seeds.

“We wanted to test for ourselves the best size of farm to support a couple without needing volunteers,” Jimmy explains. “For producing a variety of vegetables, my findings indicate one acre at the most, with a bit of family help.”

The book presents veganic gardening one step at a time: soil preparation, seeds, compost, irrigation, integrated battle against insects, harvest, and so on. While the content is based on research done in a Québec agricultural environment, the low level of mechanization will suit amateur gardeners all over North America. The book is available online and in sixty or so Canadian bookstores, including the cooperative bookstore Carpe Diem in Mont-Tremblant.

Along with his research and the promotion of his book, Jimmy hosts a YouTube program to give everyone the confidence to get their hands into the soil. Every time someone hand-shells the peas or other vegetables they’ve grown, it’s a small victory.

Driven by his eceological values and personal experience, Jimmy dares to participate in debates where he defends veganic agriculture, small-scale farms and eating local. To contribute to the most efficient use of resources and agricultural lands, he is also involved in NAVCS, the certification company that accredits veganic farms according to a chart of standards which includes and surpasses the organic criteria.

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