The State University of New York-Purchase is hosting a "Reproductive Justice Garden" that features plants historically used to induce abortions. The garden, located near the Richard and Dolly Maass Gallery, first opened in 2019 and was reestablished in 2024.
Among the plants cultivated in the garden are black cohosh, angelica, wormwood, mugwort, hyssop, and wood sorrel, all known for their historical use in inducing miscarriages. The garden is divided into sections, including a mental health garden, a menstruation garden, and a pregnancy/gestation garden.
This initiative is part of a larger art project by the collective "How to Perform an Abortion." The group organizes abortion-themed workshops at various colleges and venues across the U.S., aiming to "demystify the historical, biological, and ethical stories surrounding abortion," according to its website.
Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America, criticized the project, stating, "That a taxpayer-supported school would allow a club to prioritize destroying future students is one more reason that many are finding so-called ‘higher education’ not worth the money." She also raised concerns about potential harm to animals and preborn babies.
The "How to Perform an Abortion" collective has posted instructions on Instagram for harvesting plants from the garden, detailing steps for picking and bundling plants. While the instructions do not explicitly encourage self-induced abortions, they do outline a harvesting process.
A similar project, titled "Trigger Planting 2.0," was featured at Barnard College from October 2024 to May 2025. This installation also incorporated medicinal plants and research related to reproductive health.
A spokesperson for SUNY Purchase, Betsy Aldredge, stated that the garden began as a student art project and continues to be maintained by students. "Reproductive health care is protected in New York State, and this garden serves as a piece of artwork for contemplation and reflection on the past, present, and future," Aldredge said.