The grapes in Mom and Dad’s garden.

We’ll be making jelly this fall.

My parents got one serious haul from their grapes this year.

Grapes in Mom and Dad’s garden.

Homemade grape juice.

Grapes from Mom and Dad’s garden.

Grape juice - the easiest recipe for those who are patient.

Fill a sterilized 1 quart jar with 1-1 ½ cups grapes (washed and stemmed) and ¼ - ½ cup sugar.  Top up with boiling water leaving ½ inch head space.  Process for 15 minutes then store in a cold dark place for three months.  Strain before drinking.

The warmest part of this chilly day - A gift of grapes from the nicest person in town.

Oh Montréal, tu m'inspires.

My work sends me to some pretty awesome places.  For the past week, I’ve been in Montréal on a series of video shoots with my friend/sometimes workmate Les. During today’s down time, we visited a garden that’s part of an urban gardening project spearheaded by Destination Centre-Ville.  There are six gardens all together, each bordering a downtown parking lot.  The gardens are filled with tomatoes, herbs, grapes and raspberries free for everyone to enjoy.  

Montréal definitely sets a great example of how to use otherwise unused space to provide food and jobs, spark thought and conversation, and ultimately encourage a change in how we view and use public spaces.