Our story: cultivating life differently

Enter our world

In the beginning, there was a simple dream:
to allow local gardeners to sow tasty, resilient varieties adapted to our climate, while taking care of living things.

From this dream were born Les Jardins de l'écoumène, a seed garden nestled in Saint-Damien,
where organic seeds are grown and another way of gardening is practiced.

L’écoumène, une histoire de vivant

L'écoumène emerged in 2001, driven by the desire to offer high-quality organic vegetable seeds , to preserve heritage varieties and to support food biodiversity here in Quebec.

Located on 250 acres of land in Saint-Damien, in the heart of Lanaudière, the company has been developing from the outset with a clear vision:

  • to draw inspiration from permaculture to develop the site
  • to produce in accordance with natural cycles
  • and strive for greater energy independence , particularly through solar energy.

From the very first year, the seeds from L'Écoumène obtained organic certification (a certification we have maintained continuously ever since). Season after season, our collection grows: vegetables, herbs, edible and bee-friendly flowers… always chosen for their flavor, resilience, and ability to thrive in a living garden.

From seed to living soil: an ecosystem of brands

Over the years, our project has grown in scope.
From a simple seed company, Les Jardins de l'écoumène has become a true ecosystem dedicated to living gardening:

ecumene

For gardeners who want to sow adapted, tasty and diverse varieties.
This is the world of organic seeds and varieties that tell a story.

Edaphon

For those who want to take care of what lies beneath their feet: living soil. Biochar, living composts, soil amendments,
everything needed to feed microorganisms and support healthy crops, both in the garden and in a more professional context.

MAé

To support gardeners on their journey. Training, meetings, field experiences:
MAé is the gateway to a vision of gardening where every gesture counts, from the soil to the seed.

Together, these three worlds form a single story: that of a company that deeply believes that caring for life begins in the garden.

Jean-François

Jean-François is a seed producer and gardener of living organisms , a passionate educator and communicator with extensive field experience. Before settling in Saint-Damien, he explored the forests, natural environments, and gardens of Quebec, training in:

  • forestry
  • wildlife conservation
  • landscape design
  • organic market gardening

His meeting with Guylaine marked the beginning of a shared adventure: to imagine a place where plants are cultivated as much as ideas.

In the ecumene, Jean-François is in charge:

  • seed production
  • business development
  • of the site's development , including the food forest that he designed and planted
  • as well as a large part of the company's public presence : training courses, conferences, video clips, media, and more

What drives him: to convey a vision of gardening where we work with living things rather than against them, focusing on biodiversity, living soils, permaculture and practices that make gardeners more self-reliant.

Guylaine

Guylaine is a trained horticulturist and a gardener at heart. A graduate of the Montreal Botanical Garden's School of Horticulture, she spent over 20 years working in the City of Montreal's green spaces, including several years in a production nursery, where she deepened her knowledge of plants and cultivation techniques.

Curious and passionate, she also trained in herbalism and management/administration , which allows her today to hold together all facets of the company.

At the Gardens of the Ecumene, Guylaine is at the heart of:

  • the day-to-day management of the company
  • the supply of new products
  • the selection of complementary products in store
  • and customer service, both on-site and remotely

Between management decisions, she readily returns to the vegetable garden to experiment with new varieties and recipes. She is often the one who inspires the cooking and preservation ideas that circulate within the team and the community.

What excites her: creating a human-sized company, close to gardeners, where you can ask questions, get honest advice and feel welcomed as in a garden you know well.

Here, we are not just looking to sell seeds or soil products:
We want to inspire people to garden differently , with curiosity, respect for living things and pleasure.

You are welcome in our world, whether online, in Saint-Damien, or in your own garden.
a sachet of seeds in the pocket, a bag of Edaphon living soil on the shoulder and the MAé application in hand.