In 2022 we were able to grow our first plants at the Plant Research Laboratory at UIC. Gourds, Loofah and Red Beets. The Art Garden is a space for collaborative research and supports the exploration of alternative methods of art making by growing and utilizing sustainable materials. This project generates awareness of the benefits and accessibility of natural fibers and fungi, foster an understanding for sustainable materials and cultivates cross-disciplinary connections within the university and beyond. By bridging art and science processes within sustainable methodologies, we can form the base of explorations into questions of, but not limited to, sustainable cities and the built environment, recycling and waste economies, and learning the language of nature. Connections are made between traditional craft histories and contemporary concerns about ethical use of resources.