From Farm to Table: NUS Landscape Architecture Students Cultivate Sustainability

On 24th February 2025, an undergraduate student-led group from the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA), known as the Landscape Architecture Collective (LAC), organised the 7th Planting Day in the Nasi Ulam Forest Garden, located next to the Centre for English Language Communication (CELC). Supported by the Campus Management Team (UCI), 25 student and staff participants from various faculties, primarily from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE), came together with the common goal of demonstrating sustainable campus greening. The day began with harvesting and propagating edible plants, applying compost, and concluded with a cooking session using ingredients harvested from the garden.

With the ‘Farm to Table’ concept, participants had the opportunity to learn: 1) how to forage for edible plants, both cultivated and naturally growing, such as ulam raja, piper leaves, lobi lobi fruits, and cassava roots; 2) various gardening techniques, including increasing plant populations through stem cuttings, plant propagation, and the application of leaf compost; and 3) how to cook with harvested plants and locally grown vegetables from a traditional market to prepare Nasi Ulam (Malay mixed vegetable and herbs rice), jam, tea, and more. The cooking and tasting session was the highlight of the day, allowing participants to enjoy the fruits of their labour by savouring the food they had prepared.

“This time, I had the chance to cook, which added a new layer of excitement. I joined Planting Day because I genuinely wanted to grow green together with everyone. Being part of this event always feels fulfilling, especially when we see the positive impact we’re making. I gained a deeper understanding of the processes behind composting, propagating, and the incredible sustainability efforts happening at NUS. It’s inspiring to witness how these initiatives contribute to a greener environment,” reflected Natasha, a Year 2 Landscape Architecture student, who was eager to share what she had learned from participating in this tree planting day.

“I learned about the different plants we can use to season rice, which was a fascinating and practical lesson! It was a fun way to connect our gardening efforts to real-world applications,” remarked Yuxuan, a Year 1 Biomedical Engineering student, who was more than happy to get his hands dirty for this enriching opportunity.

“This Planting Day not only offered every participant a meaningful workout but also an opportunity to contribute to the future landscape of the NUS campus. I eagerly anticipate seeing more colleagues and students join us in our upcoming events,” encouraged Associate Professor Yun Hye Hwang, who spearheaded these humble semester initiatives and was heartened by the turnout.

This article was contributed by the following Landscape Architecture students: Toh Wen Ting, Goh Yi Wei, Zenn Lim, Tee Wan Ching, Cleon Lai Yi Hu and Sumaiya Azad.