Embracing Nature: The Art of Permaculture Gardening
When it comes to gardening, Heidi Heiland views her one-acre oasis, nestled by Gleason Lake near Wayzata, as a living laboratory. Through her commitment to permaculture—a gardening philosophy that harmonizes with nature—Heidi cultivates not only beauty but also functionality in her landscape.
“My garden embodies a mix of aesthetics, productivity, and plants that evoke joy,” she explains. “It reflects my experimentation with sun and shade, hardiness zones, and the capacity for growing both food and cut flowers. My goal is for my garden to contribute by capturing rainwater, providing sustenance, creating wildlife habitats, and remaining captivating in all seasons.”
Heidi is a familiar face to many, thanks to her engaging garden TV segments and her sustainable landscaping venture, Heidi’s GrowHaus and Lifestyle Gardens in Corcoran, a business she has nurtured for over four decades. She emphasizes, “While professional gardening or ‘high-touch horticulture’ is our main focus, we also offer landscape design, installation services, and manage a five-and-a-half-acre nursery and garden center. Our dedication to healthy soils, beneficial insects, and water conservation sets us apart in the Twin Cities.”
“Gardening is the slowest moving performance art, and it is always evolving. I learn a lot from watching and experiencing my garden.”
— Heidi Heiland, gardener
Heidi’s home garden wraps around an elegantly designed Arts and Crafts house that she and her husband built in 2006, optimizing the site of a former 1960s ranch. “We repurposed the existing foundation, enhancing it for better views of the lake and implementing sustainable technologies like geothermal heating and high-efficiency windows,” she notes.
As visitors stroll through her garden, they are met with cascading beds filled with edible and ornamental native plants beautifully coordinated. Her husband, Dan, a mason, has contributed thoughtfully designed hardscaping features. “We incorporate strawberries as ground cover, blueberries as hedges, and asparagus that dances gracefully in the breeze,” Heidi shares. “We even walk beneath an arch of pear trees to reach our front courtyard, where grapes drape over an arbor and a small raspberry patch thrives.”
Heidi maximizes the use of her garden space by intermingling edible plants with ornamental varieties. For instance, she strategically places leafy greens like sorrel and lovage in shaded areas. “Mint thrives in the shade here, where it grows less aggressively,” she explains. The garden is dotted with fruit trees, including cherry, plum, and apple, alongside a resilient kiwi vine. “I embrace Minnesota’s unique climatic challenges; winters offer me a well-deserved gardening break,” she adds.
Her family’s passion for gardening is long-standing. Heidi’s great-grandmother forayed into landscape design with an award-winning garden in New Jersey, crafted by one of America’s first female landscape architects. Although she pursued a degree in English at both the University of Colorado and the University of Minnesota, Heidi’s educational journey also led her to the London Flower School and studies in horticultural therapy. “This is my God-given talent,” she articulates. “I’m dedicated to fostering a connection between plants and our community—this is my legacy.”
“I want my garden to pull its own weight by capturing water, providing food, creating wildlife habitat, while remaining interesting in all seasons.”
— Heidi Heiland, gardener
Understanding Permaculture
Permaculture, a term coined by Bill Mollison in 1978 (a fusion of “permanent agriculture”), refers to the thoughtful design and maintenance of productive ecosystems that mimic the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural environments. Here are some core principles that Heidi implements in her home garden:
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Double Duty: Heidi believes in choosing plants that serve multiple purposes. She champions the concept of stacking functions, as illustrated by her serviceberry tree, which is not only a native species but also visually stunning across seasons. “It blooms in spring, bears fruit in summer, and flaunts a tawny hue in fall. Plus, the birds and I enjoy its berries,” she points out.
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Fair Share: Generosity defines Heidi’s gardening approach. “My garden yields an abundance, and I love sharing it with neighbors and wildlife alike,” she shares. Instead of traditional lawns, she nurtures a “bee lawn” developed by the University of Minnesota, which consists of white clover—offering nourishment for bees while allowing her vegetables to thrive undisturbed.
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Chop and Drop: Sustainability is essential in Heidi’s practices. When pruning, rather than discarding cuttings, she incorporates them back into the garden beds, enriching the soil naturally. “At 65, my gardening techniques have evolved significantly; I prefer to let plant material decompose in place rather than hauling it to a compost heap,” she says.
Conclusion
Gardening, like fitness, is a journey that requires patience, experimentation, and commitment. By embracing the principles of permaculture, anyone can create a sustainable and beautiful environment—one that nurtures both the gardener and the ecosystem. Whether you’re beginning your own garden or seeking fresh ideas, consider how you can apply these principles to cultivate your unique outdoor space. With a little creativity and dedication, your garden can thrive in harmony with nature, offering both beauty and bounty over the seasons.
