“The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” – Genesis 2:8

Opening Thought

Before there were cities, nations, or even families, there was a garden. God’s very first act after forming man was to plant…a deliberate, intentional act of cultivating a space for life to flourish.

Thus, The Bible begins not in a temple, a church, nor a palace, but in a garden.

This tells us something profound: gardening is not just a hobby. It’s a sacred act.

When we dig into the soil, we echo the Creator who knelt down and molded humanity from the dust of the earth. Creation itself is not just a backdrop to the story of God; it is part of the story.

The Garden as Sacred Ground

Eden was more than a place, it was a sanctuary, a space where God walked with humanity in the cool of the day. The garden was a place of provision, beauty, and balance. It was where divine presence and human purpose met.

In a world that often separates the spiritual from the physical, permaculture offers a return to the integrated wholeness of Eden. It invites us to see design in creation, not just randomness, and to work with God’s patterns, and not against them.

Creation Speaks

Permaculture teaches us to observe nature. Scripture tells us that nature also teaches:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
“Ask the animals, and they will teach you… or the birds… or the earth… or the fish…” – Job 12:7–8

When we observe the flow of water, the habits of bees, or the cycles of compost, we are not just learning gardening techniques, we are receiving parables from creation itself. Every seed bears witness to the God of resurrection. Every tree whispers of rootedness and reaching.

Practical Insight: Starting Your Garden

This week, whether you’re new to gardening or have years of soil under your nails, take time to observe. Don’t rush to plant. Walk your land, even if it’s just a patio or windowsill. Where does the light fall? Where does water collect? Where do the birds land?

Begin a garden journal. Sketch. Pray. Listen.

And Ask:

• What is already thriving here?
• Where is life struggling?
• How can I make space for what God is already doing?

Spiritual Practice

Spend 10 minutes each morning this week walking outside, without any agenda. Just observe. Ask God to show you His heart in His creation. Write down what you see, feel, or hear. 

Treat this as a sacred appointment.

A Question to Reflect Upon

How does seeing God as a gardener, change the way that you view your own role in tending and stewarding the earth?…