Grandmother on a mission: Mile End woman seeks to rid neighbourhood of ragweed

Irne Mayer has spent the last 10 years picking out tens of thousands of ragweed plants by hand.

Her weeding work began afterher grandson,Xavier, was diagnosed with allergies.

"After my retirement, I knew that my grandson was allergic so I [decided to] do something to help him," she said.

Mayer started in her own Mile End yard, and she pulled the plant out around her grandson's house, too.

She then moved her efforts into the public sphere, successfully pitching a three-year pilot project to eradicate ragweed in an old rail yard that has been transformed into a park.

The area, on the border of the PlateauMont-Royal and RosemontLa Petite-Patrieboroughs on Gasp Avenue, is now known asthe Champdes Possibles.

More than 150,000 plants pulled up

Ragweed is an invasive species and its pollen causes itchy eyes, stuffed noses and sneezing for thosewith allergies.

Last year, the first year of the project, asmall group of volunteers pulled up more than 150,000 ragweed plants.

"This year, we have a lot less," Mayer said. "My project is three years, and it's only the second year, that's why I'm really optimistic."

She said she hopes to put a theory to the testthat if you weed three times per year, ragweed will disappear forever.

CarolineMagar, development coordinator for Les Amis du Champdes Possibles, said she applauds Mayer's dedication.

"It's amazing," she said. "I think it's necessary when you're facing such a big public health concern like that."

Mayer said she'llcontinue working with groups of volunteers to try to drastically reduce the ragweed population, always with her grandson in mind.