# Personal website as a digital garden

> Although the concept of a "digital garden" has been around for at least a decade, I only recently discovered it on the website of Maggie Appleton...

- URL: https://workingbruno.com/notes/20231016-personal-website-as-a-digital-garden/
- Published: 2023-10-16
- Tags: knowledge-work

---

Although the concept of a "digital garden" has been around for at least a decade, I only recently discovered it on [Maggie Appleton's](https://maggieappleton.com) website. I was fascinated by the idea of having a personal website as a more dynamic and interconnected space that grows organically and non-linearly. In essence, it is an intimately individual realm, centered on the process of one person's learning and exploration; however, the ideas that thrive within it are extended to an audience.
 
The concept draws inspiration from the idea of a garden, where ideas can be planted, nurtured, and allowed to grow in a more natural and interconnected way. 

It's also somewhat related to the idea of [personal knowledge manager](https://ednico.medium.com/personal-knowledge-management-b1a29a5e220d) and [second brain](https://fortelabs.com/blog/basboverview/) where digital tools are used to capture, organize and make sense of information in a way that makes more sense to a person's mental processes. In practice, individuals often integrate these concepts, using a digital garden as a way to share and explore ideas with a broader audience, while their second brain serves as a private repository for personal knowledge and information management. Both concepts share the common goal of leveraging digital tools to enhance cognitive abilities, creativity, and knowledge retention.

Some of the best-known examples of "digital gardens" that I find interesting:
* [Andy Matuschak](https://notes.andymatuschak.org/)
* [Chris Biscarddi](https://www.christopherbiscardi.com/garden)
* [Maggie Appleton](https://maggieappleton.com)
* [Matthem Strom ](https://matthewstrom.com/writing)
* [Joel Hooks](https://joelhooks.com/digital-garden)

This is a concept that I'm interested in exploring and which greatly enhances the scope of a personal website.