Permaculture Gardening: A Gentle Conversation with Nature
- beezytiger
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
Many people ask me how I fell in love with gardening. I often give this simple answer: I started with indoor plants, then discovered the joy of growing food through the Cityplot collective. I became fascinated by how flowers, plants, and trees start from something as small as a seed—and how they return to the soil, completing a full circle of life.
But there’s another big reason: my desire to connect and communicate.
Through gardening, we connect with something deeper.
Permaculture Gardening and the Language of Nature
When I was young, I began learning different dialects and languages. It was required, but over time, I grew to love the process. For me, learning a language isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary; it’s about understanding the deeper meanings behind words—the slang, the tone, the cultural nuances.
I believe we learn languages because we want to connect. We want to understand each other better and bridge the gaps shaped by our diverse backgrounds.
Sometimes, kind people say to me, “You’re so smart for speaking so many languages!” But the truth is, I’m not any smarter than anyone else. Language learning, like writing, drawing, or any other craft, is about practice.
And the same goes for gardening.
Gardening is a language—and no one starts fluent.
No One Is Born with a Green Thumb
I often hear people say, “I’m not good with plants” or “I don’t have a green thumb.” But the truth is—nobody starts with one. What some of us do have is curiosity and persistence. We spend time learning, failing, and trying again.
When I first started, I would sit and stare at my plants, wondering why the leaves looked so different from one another or why they reached for the light in unique ways. My desire to understand—and maybe even communicate—with the natural world grew stronger with each observation.
Plants and insects may not speak our language, but they do communicate. If we pay close attention, we begin to understand how to care for them, how they respond, and what they need.
Through gardening—touching soil, feeling the sun, listening to birds and bees—nature is constantly speaking. It’s up to us to listen and respond.
Nobody is born with green thumbs. What we have is curiosity and persistence.
Nature Is Closer Than You Think
Many expats in Amsterdam tell me they miss nature—the mountains, oceans, and national parks from home. I do too. But connecting with nature doesn’t always require a grand adventure.
Gardening is one of the most intimate ways to reconnect with the natural world. It’s a human attempt to understand how life works, and how we can live harmoniously with other beings on Earth.
Permaculture gardening, in particular, invites us to observe and reflect before we act. It encourages us to give back to the land, not just take from it. Growing organically, using no-dig techniques, practicing polyculture—these are all ways of gently conversing with nature.
In a way, we’re saying: “Hey, how are you? I want to understand how we can live together. Will you let me?”
From Office Hours to Garden Hours
Thinking back to when I was learning languages, I remember how important it was to practice outside the classroom. At university, we had “office hours”—extra sessions where we could ask professors questions or practice with teaching assistants in a safe, supportive setting.
For me, these were incredibly valuable. The more I practiced speaking, the more confident I became.
That’s when it hit me: gardening needs something like that too.
Garden Hours is my version of those office hours—but for gardening. It’s not a formal workshop. There’s no agenda. It’s simply a time to connect, learn, and garden together in a relaxed, friendly space.
What to expect:
🪴A trial session for anyone curious about gardening or about working with me
🌿A casual setting where you can ask questions, touch the soil, and explore plants
🌼A safe space for new and past students to deepen their practice, get support, or just enjoy being in the garden together
Whether you’re just starting out or have questions from a previous course, Garden Hours is a chance to talk, learn, and grow—just like those language sessions helped me gain confidence and fluency.
🌼 Let’s Chat with Nature Together
Want to learn more or join a Garden Hour? Contact me here and let’s set up a time. I’d love to meet you, get our hands in the soil, and keep this gentle conversation with nature going.
Written and photographed by Amy Liu, gardener, natural beekeeper, artist, student and proud member of the Cityplot collective. For more on what she does, you can check out her website Beezy Tiger and follow her on Instagram . Subscribe on Substack if you'd like these reflections sent straight to your inbox.
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