FROM GARDEN TO TABLE AT PLANTING DAY 12.0

Imagine unearthing so much cassava in CDE that the harvest stretches across an entire wall! That was one of the highlights of Planting Day 12.0, held at the Nasi Ulam Forest Garden on 23 April 2026. Home to over 30 edible plant species, such as cekur and lobi-lobi, the garden brought together returning attendees, research staff, alumni, and others from across the CDE community.

Located outside Architecture Drive, the Nasi Ulam Forest Garden serves as a “living lab” where edible plants are grown under community stewardship. First launched in 2021 by the Landscape Architecture Collective (LAC), Planting Day began as a garden maintenance initiative and has since evolved into a recurring event that invites the NUS community to reconnect with food, biodiversity, and one another.

At this 12th edition, participants were guided through harvesting, composting, and propagation before heading to the BuZZy Kitchen at Techno Edge to prepare Nasi Ulam, lobi-lobi jam with bread, and cassava cake using ingredients from the garden. The cooking session was led by Assoc Prof Hwang Yun Hye (Department of Architecture).

“Events like this remind us that landscapes need care, stewardship, and community. Making Nasi Ulam together also reminded me that our food sources can be much closer to home than we think”

- Van Trang Dang, BLA Year 4

Reposted from CDE May 2026 Newsletter Highlights