World Garden Commons Design Principles
Recognizing the vitality of any cultural heritage depends upon the health of the natural world that supports it, it follows that natural ecology is primary, and the humans’ dependent on the ecology is a co-creative. Natural ecology is the largest community circle of which we humans are part.
Principle #1 LET THE WATER LEAD
Create a self-sustaining, hydrologically functioning basin true to the regional ecology and maximize opportunities for the regional prairie landscape to express itself and develop overtime.
Principle #2 LEARN FROM THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Learn how the ecological systems behave, practice responsive adaptive design and adaptive management.
Principle #3 INVOLVE COMMUNITY – BELONGING
Make efforts to maximize diverse community participation throughout the life of the project from conception through long-term maintenance.
Principle #4 EXPERIENCE NATURE & ECOLOGY
Create opportunities for people to enjoy the natural environment; the landscape is a unique attraction where people can experience the qualities and ecological relationships of a prairie landscape.