A 270 sq m garden is part of SMU Grow, a new urban farming initiative launched on Tuesday that encourages gardening and sustainable living in the heart of the city. Located outside the School of Accountancy and School of Law building, it will be sown with about 50 plant varieties, including basil, spinach, chilli and guava. The garden will be tended to by students and staff, and will be open to the public – who can also join in the gardening, or even help themselves to a few herbs. The idea for the project came from SMU Office of Global Learning Director Ms Bernadette Toh, who was inspired by local food movement Edible Gardens to start her own herb garden nine months ago. Produce from the garden's harvests will be used in community service projects such as the annual SMU Challenge, in which students deliver food and household necessities to elderly and low-income families living in Queenstown.