Let’s get into the garden and observe. Observing your garden, yard, or other outdoor space is a lot like observing nature, with all the same benefits and more. It is observing nature. It just happens to be a part of nature that exists right outside your door, so it’s even more personal to you. So, get out your journal or garden observation worksheet (see below) and meet me in the garden.
If youโre fortunate enough to have a garden or yard to spend time in, you have a valuable resource at your fingertips. How can you make the most of this amazing resource, deepen your relationship with nature, enrich yourself, and grow a healthier garden?
It all starts with observation.
The Garden Observation Worksheet
In this article I refer to a garden observation worksheet or journal page I made as part of the Get Outside (in the Garden) Every Day of May Challenge Iโm running. If you want a copy of this printable PDF, you can download it by filling out the form below. (Note that if youโre reading this as it comes out, youโll have to join the challenge and wait for May to have access to the PDF. If youโre reading this after May 2023, then Iโll send you an email with a link to the PDF right away when you provide your email address in the form below.)
You can print this garden observation worksheet out as many times as you like and use it as a journal page, a prompt to get you deeper into observing what’s going on in your garden.
Observing the Garden
Letโs talk about garden observation. First, we’ll look at why taking the time to simply observe is beneficial for both you and your garden. Then weโll look at how to start, in case youโre not sure what to pay attention to, or just want a little bit of guidance to get you started. And finally, Iโll talk a little about what comes next, after youโve spent some time observing your garden.
Why Take the Time to Observe Your Garden?
Observing your garden has the same benefits as any type of nature observation, and some benefits specific to gardening. Here are some benefits of observing nature in general.
- Gain a better understanding of the natural world.
- Increase appreciation for the environment.
- Reduce stress and promote relaxation.
- Inspire creativity and innovation.
- Provide opportunities for physical activity and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Observation of your garden or yard has additional benefits. By regularly observing your site, garden, and plants you can:
- Make appropriate design decisions when installing new beds, irrigation, and other infrastructure in your garden.
- Make informed decisions about plant species that will thrive in your specific location.
- Identify issues such as pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies early on and take action before they become more serious.
- Track the growth and development of your plants and adjust your care practices accordingly.
- Maintain a healthier garden and obtain higher yields than you otherwise might.
How to Observe Your Garden
1. Spend Time In Your Garden
It seems obvious, but start by simply spending time in your garden and shifting your focus to the task at hand. Don’t try to multitask here. Take out your earbuds, silence your phone, and just be. Take a minute to observe your own body and mind first. How does your body feel? What’s your mood like? How does it feel to be here, in the garden right now? Be fully present for a moment.
2. Zoom Out
Observe from a zoomed-out perspective, and take notice of the garden as a whole. Open up all of your senses and take in the experience of being in your garden, with the plants, the insects, the soil, and everything else. You are in a mini ecosystem. Let that sink in. Think of all the parts that work together to influence how this garden grows.
Cycle through your senses. What colors and textures do you see? What sounds do you hear and from what direction? Are there any smells in the air? Notice how the air feels on your skin.
3. Zoom In
Now take a stroll through the space and zoom in. Pick a plant to look at closely. What do the leaves look like close up? Feel the leaves, bark, stem, flower, or other parts with your fingertips. Does it feel rough, strong, brittle, or tender? Choose an adjective to describe the texture. Think of another word to describe the plant’s smell. You might even pinch off a leaf and crush it between your fingers to get a better sniff. If you’re growing any fruits or vegetables that are ripe or ready to be picked, then taste.
Continue wandering through the garden, taking note of which plants are thriving, and which aren’t growing as well. Zoom in again as necessary. How do the latter look less happy than the others? Are the leaves droopy, discolored, or damaged? Don’t worry too much about how to address problems right now. The task at hand is simply to observe. But do take notes so you can come back to and troubleshoot any concerns later.
Garden Observation Tips
Observing your garden involves taking a closer look at the plants, soil, and overall environment to increase your understanding of the natural systems at work. Here are some tips for observing your garden:
- Take regular walks through your garden to observe changes and identify any potential issues.
- Look closely at the leaves, stems, and flowers of your plants to check for any signs of pests or disease.
- Check the soil moisture regularly to ensure your plants are getting the right amount of water.
- Observe the amount of sunlight and shade your garden receives throughout the day.
- Make notes of your observations in a journal or notebook for future reference.
- Take pictures to document what your garden looks like at any given time.
- Draw some sketches in your journal or sketchpad of plants or wildlife you see.
What Comes After Observation?
Garden observation is just the first step to a deeper connection to your garden and a happier and healthier garden, too. Once you spend some time observing, whatโs next? What do you do with your observations? Here are a few next steps to consider.
1. Make garden observation a habit
So you’ve gone out to the garden and observed, taken some notes, and maybe filled out the garden observation worksheet. Thatโs excellent! Now take it up a level by Integrating garden observation into your daily or weekly routine.
Garden observation one day is good, but over time it leads to transformation, for both your garden and yourself.
2. Take action based on your observations
Many observations will lead to obvious actions. For example, if you notice your plants are dry, youโll water them.
Other observations might take some research to know how to respond to. Maybe you notice a pest munching on your collard greens, or that your peach tree has yellow leaves. It might take some questioning and trial and error before you figure out the right action to take to solve problems in your garden. But, the more you observe in the garden, the more you’ll learn about it and how to care for it.
3. Interact with your garden on a deeper level
Other actions might not be as clear as the simple ones above. Maybe you notice that a corner of your garden gets soggy after every rain. How could you remedy that? Raise the soil level? Add more mulch? Could you dig a swale โupstreamโ of the soggy bit to capture and sink excess water before it becomes a problem? Better yet, how might that excess water be turned into a resource? Maybe that spot is a perfect location for a compost pile because it doesn’t dry out as quickly as other areas, keeping the compost moist and activated.
In permaculture, the problem is the solution. So put your problem-solving hat on and think about how any problem in your garden might be flipped around to solve a different problem. One of Bill Mollison’s famous sayings is, “You don’t have a grasshopper problem, you have a turkey shortage.”
Conclusion
Garden observation is the first step in a long and nourishing journey to build a rich relationship with your garden and the natural world as a whole. It’s a wonderful practice to have, but it can’t stand alone for long. The other side of the coin is interaction. Observation naturally leads to interaction. And it’s that engagement with the garden and nature that builds a relationship with the land that is so beneficial.
So get out in the garden and observe. If you want a guide, or a little bit of structure to get you started, download my free Garden Observation Worksheet and Journal Page by entering your email below. Remember if you’re visiting this page before or during May 2023, you’ll have to join my Get Outside Challenge to receive the worksheet.
Happy observing!
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