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diff --git a/content/blog/2025-10-24-digital-garden.org b/content/blog/2025-10-24-digital-garden.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..003e472 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2025-10-24-digital-garden.org @@ -0,0 +1,94 @@ +#+date: <2025-10-24 Fri 19:41:41> +#+title: Digital Garden +#+description: A post dedicated to digital gardens, an online space for personal knowledge management, creative exploration, and reflection. +#+slug: digital-garden + +* What's a Digital Garden? + +#+caption: Org Roam Digital Garden +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20251024-digital-garden/orgroam.png]] + +A digital garden is a personal space, just for you. It could serve any number of +purposes, which I'll get into later, but the key is that it serves a specific +purpose for yourself. + +The primary features of a digital garden, as opposed to a personal website or +blog, is that it is not inherently structured in a strict manner, it may follow +a free form structure, it may look like a work-in-progress wiki. + +At the end of the day, it defines a web page where any type of content exists +and the author takes time and care to prune it in a specific manner. + +* Historical Context + +A lot of people talk about [[https://www.eastgate.com/garden/Enter.html][Hypertext Gardens: Delightful Vistas]] by Mark +Bernstein as the first instance of this phrase on the internet. And while this +may be true, I want to take a step further back. + +Have you heard of a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memex][Memex]]? This hypothetical device was described in Vannevar +Bush's 1945 article "As We May Think". He envisioned a device that would be able +to store all of a person's information for them - books, records, and +communications. The person could then reference the Memex for any information +and be guided to the correct spot. Essentially, it would the 1940's version of a +mind mapping or personal knowledge system. + +From the Memex to Hypertext Gardens to mind maps to other knowledge management +systems, humans seem intent on constantly reinventing the art of information +organization. + +The modern web is the result of 30+ years of redesigning the web to streamline +information. However, in this refinement, we've lost the art and beauty of +personal websites where people would dump all of the information relevant to +themselves. + +Digital Gardens are a movement to bring these personal websites back and present +them in a personalized fashion. + +* Common Uses + +Before I get into /how/ to build a digital garden, I want to touch on the +potential uses. Everyone has their own reason for building a website and digital +gardens are no exception. + +You may want to build a digital garden for any number of reasons: + +- Knowledge management +- Creative exploration +- Collaborative learning +- Personal reflection +- Artistic expression +- Data hoarding +- Social interaction + +* How to Build Your Own Garden + +If you do want to create your own digital garden, you can get started with a few +easy steps: + +1. *Choose a platform*: You can host a website for free on platforms like GitHub + or use a more note-taking platform like Notion or Obsidian. +2. *Set Up the Structure*: Decide how you want to organize your content. Remember + the purpose of a digital garden! Plant all of the information you care about + and then work to prune and clean them up as they grow. +3. *Start with Your Interests*: A digital garden should reflect yourself. Find + your passions and start from there. +4. *Regular Updates*: A garden won't grow if you ignore it. Remember to check in + and think if you want to add more, prune things out, or move things around. +5. *Interlinking Ideas*: Like plants and ecosystems, a digital garden should link + together. You may use tags or links to connect items on your own site or + perhaps includes links or lists to other gardens you enjoy. + +By far the most important piece here is regular updates. You can always fix or +change things, but the garden won't grow if you don't contribute to it. + +* Additional Suggestions + +Digital gardens are such an easy way to manage your knowledge and unleash your +creativity. Instead of sticking to the usual blog format, you get a space where +your ideas can grow and change over time. Whether you want to document what +you’re learning, share thoughts with others, or just reflect on your journey, a +digital garden can be the perfect tool. + +I strongly encourage you to create your own today, even if it starts as private +notes instead of a website! Nothing is ever too small and the point of a garden +isn't to be perfect, but to be a place where you can experiment and have fun. |