Indigenous Lessons for Creating your Garden of Eden

Photos by Sebastião Salgado

My approach to landscape and garden design is deeply inspired by my experiences in the Amazon Rainforest and the time I spent with the Yawanawa people in the Rio Gregorio region of Brazil. These encounters have profoundly shaped my understanding of our relationship with the natural world—a relationship that I now strive to reflect in my work with Beija Flor.

Today, the voices of Indigenous peoples across the globe are gaining recognition, amplified by social media, as they fight to preserve their natural habitats. These communities live in areas relatively untouched by the relentless demands of our capitalist economy. Yet, they extend an invitation to us—to modern humans—to return home and reconnect with the world we share with so many other forms of life.

With my work for Beija Flor, I aim to contribute to a shift in mentality, fostering a perception of the world that mirrors the Indigenous understanding of nature:

1. We Are Nature

One of the most profound statements from Indigenous voices is, "We are not defending our natural habitat; we are the natural habitat defending itself." This reflects a worldview where no distinction exists between people and nature. Indigenous communities see themselves as an integral part of the ecosystem, where mutual dependency and cooperation are fundamental. As the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh eloquently put it, this is the essence of "inter-being." In the garden, this philosophy encourages us to cultivate a space where humans and nature coexist harmoniously, nurturing each other.

2. Life is Cyclical

The natural world is defined by cycles—of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth—cycles in which humans are an essential part. Our breath, exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide with plants, symbolizes a symbiotic relationship that sustains life on Earth. Indigenous cultures recognize and honor these cycles, understanding that every action is part of a larger web of life. In gardening, this can be reflected through practices such as composting, crop rotation, and seasonal planting, all of which mirror the cyclical nature of life and ensure the health and sustainability of the ecosystem.

3. Reclaiming Wisdom in the Age of Cities

Sebastião Salgado, the renowned photographer, once remarked, "Since we've been living in cities, we've become more and more stupid, not smarter." Intelligence, from an Indigenous perspective, is deeply tied to an intimate knowledge of the land and its ecosystems. As we moved into urban environments, we've lost much of this wisdom, distancing ourselves from the very sources of life. Salgado’s poignant observation reminds us that true intelligence lies in understanding and respecting the natural world. In the garden, we can begin to reclaim this wisdom by observing, learning from, and nurturing the land—becoming, in essence, more connected and aware.

Creating Your Garden of Eden

Creating Gardens of Eden is a path to rediscovering our true home. It’s about becoming "indigenous" in your own garden—learning to live in harmony with nature, rather than apart from it. This requires a shift in mindset, one that aligns with the perspectives of Indigenous peoples who still live in balance with the Earth.

Your garden can become more than just a space for flowers; it can be your kitchen, your living room, your bathroom, and your local organic shop. By designing and tending to your garden with this mindset, with Beija Flor’s guidance, you will naturally develop a deep, intimate relationship with everything you plant and care for. Your garden will become a living, breathing entity—a piece of art that you’ve co-created with nature. Through this process, you will come to see how profoundly connected we are to the Earth, and this realization will feel like a true homecoming.

Wende from Beija Flor