Teacher education academics at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are taking the 'kitchen garden in schools' concept a step further with a garden of Indigenous food plants. One of 11 projects to be awarded a Sustainability Grant in 2012 from CSU Green, the Indigenous Food Garden is located around the School of Education building at CSU in Wagga Wagga. The new garden aims to 'increase biodiversity and bird habitat, provide better environment for staff, to be used as a teaching resource, help build links with Indigenous community, and see that flow through teaching'. It was planted earlier this year under the guidance of a local Indigenous group. Native plants have been used on one side of the building to attract native birds. The remaining area has been planted with indigenous food plants. One of the CSU staff behind the project is lecturer Ms Jacqui Tinkler. She said, "The project demonstrates that just the simple act of planting a garden is a powerful way to reconnect with not only the land, but also with the people who used the land for food. So many of us have become very disconnected from the way we get our food and the land that produces it. By planting a garden full of Indigenous plants that can be used for food, I wanted to create a space where people could come and learn about these plants and our connection to the land."