Plant Story Cards
A community research project documenting cultural relationships with plants, places, and botanical heritage across Austin's diverse communities
About the Project
Plant Story Cards celebrates the deep connections between people and plants in Austin, Texas. Through interviews with elders, gardeners, healers, and community members, we're documenting the living botanical knowledge that shapes our city's cultural landscape.
This project honors Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and diverse community voices, preserving traditional ecological knowledge while fostering intergenerational dialogue about our shared botanical heritage.
Featured Stories
"Our ancestors asked for permission from the plants and animals to live. We are all interconnected and need to take care of each other."
— Coahuiltecan Elder, Indigenous to Central Texas
"My grandmother taught me to always plant marigolds with tomatoes. She said they're companions – the marigolds protect, the tomatoes provide."
— Maria, East Austin Gardener
"The pecan trees remember everything. They've seen this city grow from a small town. When you sit under them, you're sitting in history."
— James, Longtime Austin Resident
Plants in Our Stories
Key Findings
- Sacred Reciprocity: Indigenous practices emphasize asking permission and giving thanks to plants, establishing relationships based on respect and reciprocity.
- Medicinal Knowledge: Over 30 plants were identified for their healing properties, with knowledge passed down through generations of healers and herbalists.
- Food Sovereignty: Community gardens serve as sites of cultural preservation, where traditional crops and cooking methods are maintained and shared.
- Climate Wisdom: Traditional planting calendars and companion planting strategies offer sustainable approaches to Central Texas gardening.
Join the Project
We're continuing to collect stories and document plant knowledge. Share your story or support this community research project.