What is a Digital Garden?
An introduction to the concept of digital gardens, their philosophy, and how they differ from traditional blogs.
· 2 min read
Introduction #
A digital garden is a personal, evolving collection of notes, ideas, and resources published online. Unlike traditional blogs, digital gardens prioritize growth, interconnection, and discoverability over chronological posting and perfection. They are living knowledge bases that reflect the author’s learning journey and thought process.
Philosophy and History #
The term “digital garden” was popularized by Maggie Appleton and others in the early 2020s, inspired by earlier personal wikis and knowledge management systems. The philosophy centers on:
- Growth over perfection: Content is always evolving, and incomplete notes are welcome.
- Interconnection: Notes are linked together, forming a web of related ideas.
- Evergreen content: Articles are updated and refined over time, rather than being static snapshots.
Digital Gardens vs. Blogs #
| Digital Garden | Traditional Blog |
|---|---|
| Non-linear, interconnected | Chronological, linear |
| Notes can be incomplete | Posts are “finished” |
| Focus on learning and growth | Focus on publishing |
| Encourages linking ideas | Rarely links internally |
Digital gardens are more like personal wikis or Zettelkasten systems than blogs. They encourage exploration and serendipitous discovery.
Key Features and Benefits #
- Atomic notes: Each note covers a single idea or topic.
- Progressive summarization: Information is layered from general to specific.
- Internal linking: Notes reference each other, making connections explicit.
- Metadata and tags: Content is organized for easy navigation and discovery.
- Transparency: Readers can see the evolution of ideas over time.
How to Start Your Own Digital Garden #
- Choose a platform: Hugo, Obsidian Publish, TiddlyWiki, and others are popular choices.
- Start small: Capture ideas as atomic notes, even if they’re incomplete.
- Link related notes: Use internal links to connect ideas.
- Iterate and grow: Regularly update and expand your notes.
- Share your garden: Publish your site and invite others to explore.