South Asia Garden
Welcome to the South Asia Garden, a living classroom where students of all ages can learn about South Asian cultures, sustainable food production, healthy eating, and the global histories of vegetables, herbs, and fruits common to South Asian foodways. The garden, established with a UT Austin Green Fund grant, is a collaboration between University Housing and Dining’s UT Farm Stand and the South Asia Institute. The garden is located behind the Brackenridge residence hall near Waller Creek, on the ancestral lands of Lipan Apache, Tonkawa, Comanche and other First Peoples. In this short video, you will learn about the making of the garden and some of the herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grow there. The South Asia Garden is a living classroom of South Asian culinary histories. Some of the foods – like cucumbers, eggplants, and curry plants – were first cultivated in the region and then spread across the globe, while others – like chili peppers and ginger – made their way into the region through migration and trade networks to become key ingredients in South Asian foodways.