Gardening and life design are more similar than you may think, and share many of the same principles, ideas, and strategies. Did you know that when planning and building a garden, you may be using a design thinking approach ~ a foundational pillar of life design?
I was first introduced to the idea of life design in a Permaculture Design Certificate course many years ago. Permaculture is a design methodology that works with, rather than against, nature, and aims to be regenerative by improving and making systems healthier. The ecological principles that are the basis of permaculture can be used in gardening, and to foster a more regenerative lifestyle overall when applied to work and life.
Following is a brief overview of several of the principles that my life design clients and students have found most helpful over the years. These ideas and principles translate well into an ecological life design context, and can benefit both your life and your garden!
1. Start where you are and observe before you act
Before designing a garden, time spent observing and gathering information about the ecology of the area will improve coherence between the garden and the conditions.
A site for a garden is not a blank slate, so it’s important to carefully observe before doing anything. Notice all aspects of the ecology of the site, including things such as rainfall, sunlight, wind, insects, soil and underlying geology, topography, and wildlife through the seasons.
In life design, we ‘start where we are’ by gathering information and insights about our individual ecosystem through self-observation. This information helps us to build coherence between who we are, what we believe, and what we do, to gain a greater sense of meaning and purpose.
Before acting, observe and inquire into elements of your personal ecosystem, including, for example, close relationships and community ties, work, health, recreation, and life experiences, preferences, and values. What aspects of your ecological system are healthy? Difficult or challenging? Needing attention or redesigning?
2. Design from patterns to details
Garden design begins with a ‘big picture’ perspective by identifying overarching patterns. These are then used to inform and ‘fill in’ the design details. Through observing, we identify patterns and themes and use them to build a healthy garden that will work with the ecology of the area.
An environmental pattern that involves an area of shallow soil, full sun, and frequent wind and wildlife, might suggest deer and drought resistant design details for example. Over time, the garden design details can be used to modify the patterns and improve the garden ecology by increasing the soil layer and establishing wind and wildlife barriers.
In life design, we identify work and life patterns and themes through our observations and curiosity. These are reflected in our core and enduring values and preferences, and the constellation of our history, experiences, and perspectives. We can strengthen, modify, or replace the patterns through the thoughtful design of details.
A pattern of being energized and engaged by collaborative work can direct us to design for more opportunities to partner with others.
The pattern of our energy ups and downs, and how we like to move through the day, can inform the way we design and organize the details of our work schedule.
3. Generate ideas
Once we become familiar with the patterns, we move to idea generation to fill in the details. Having more ideas leads to better solutions so brainstorming and researching is useful here.
In the above example, you might explore ideas for deer and drought resistant options by referring to garden books and websites, touring gardens, and talking to gardeners in your area.
In life design, practicing idea generation by brainstorming, mind mapping, and researching, ensures there are many options to explore and consider.
For example, you might brainstorm, either on our own or with others, the many ways of building a more collaborative orientation at work.
4. Try things and accept feedback
Garden design is an ongoing process of experimenting, prototyping ideas, observing, researching, and iterating. Approach new ideas with an open and curious mind, and be prepared to respond to changes. A garden gives constant feedback, so trying things, making observations, and iterating is a valuable strategy.
You may have decided to establish an herb garden and found that the lavender is thriving, but the rosemary isn’t. Continue observing, generating ideas, researching, and prototyping, to find a good solution.
In life design, as in gardening, success is dependent on trying things, observing, and iterating as needed. Receiving feedback in life design is about being curious and paying attention. Creatively respond to change and be open to new ideas.
Working collaboratively on a short-term project is a prototype idea that allows you to gather information about a potential partnership without investing considerable resources of time, money, or commitment. Other prototypes may include a short-term internship, a shadowing opportunity, or a conversation with someone who has experience in the area you are exploring.
5. Stack functions
Lean toward choices that have more than one function or purpose. Ensure that every effort has many benefits.
A single plant can have multiple functions: provide food, seeds, shade, nourishment for birds, insects, and animals, secure and enrich soil, catch rain, mark a boundary, create privacy, and provide beauty and joy. In regenerative gardening, design so that every part of your garden has many benefits and functions.
How can you design your work and life so that you are stacking functions? How can you get multiple benefits and functions from your valuable resources ~ your time and energy especially.
6. Outsource the friction
Explore and experiment with alternate ways to manage aspects of your work and life that are distressing or uncomfortably difficult.
What are the primary sources of friction in your life? What creative solutions can you find for outsourcing them? How can you make your life easier? Use design thinking to explore ideas for minimizing or eliminating friction.
7. Use and value diversity
In any ecological system, the health of the system is enhanced through diversity and complexity. Polyculture in gardening aims to imitate nature through diversification. A diverse ecosystem creates a healthier garden overall, and minimizes risk if one type of plant is affected by natural hardship such as weather, pests, or disease.
Companion planting is an approach to diversifying that brings together complementary and helpful plants, as occurs naturally in healthy ecological systems. Companion planting improves the health of a garden by minimizing risk, providing a plant shelter from weather, such as sun and wind, for delicate plants, managing pests (trap cropping), and increasing the population of beneficial insects (positive hosting).
How can you design your work and life to create a diverse ecosystem, one in which aspects of your life support and enhance each other, and provide a safety net for unforeseen and inevitable challenges and changes?
How can you design your work and life to create a complementary and diverse community of companions, collaborators, and partners that benefits all those involved?
8. Value the edges
Where two ecosystems meet, things flourish, and are more abundant and diverse. Where a meadow meets a forest, where rivers, lakes, and streams meet the shore, where there are outcrops of exposed rocks and cliffs, you have an edge. An edge is a transition zone in which you can find a richness and diversity that draws on the resources of both worlds.
In a garden, creating deliberately wandering or curved, rather than straight lines, provides more edges where plants can flourish.
How can you value what is currently at the edge ~ of your vision, your work, your life, your relationships and community, your health and well-being, your courage? How can you create more edges in your life?
9. Use small and slow solutions
A slow, incremental approach allows small steps to be taken, and time for learning. A 'slow design’ approach allows you to ‘fail fast, fail forward’, where mistakes are caught early and adjustments made without having invested significant resources.
A regenerative garden is designed and built slowly and thoughtfully over time.
How can you adopt a ‘slow design’ approach to your life and work? Is there a small step you can take in the direction you would like to go?
10. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have
Learn to see what is possible, even when the conditions or circumstances aren’t ideal. Developing the qualities of adaptability and resourcefulness supports a more regenerative life.
While you may not have time, resources, or suitable land for a large garden, there is always something you can grow on a kitchen counter, in a window, on a balcony, in a neighbours yard, or a community garden.
What steps can you take to move in the direction you would like to go, even if the ideal circumstances or conditions are lacking in some way? What are you able to do in your current situation as it is right now?
These are a few of the many valuable principles that apply to both gardening and life design.
To explore these, and other life design practices, strategies, and tools, please reach out to learn about upcoming courses, workshops, and individual sessions.
