Design 2: Bonsai Beginners Bootcamp: Growing Bonsai Sustainably
Design 02 transforms Mă-Kè Bonsai’s signature beginner course into a regenerative, immersive workshop that aligns with permaculture ethics. The Beginners Bootcamp: Growing Bonsai Sustainably redesigns the classic training into a day-long, hands-on event integrating ecological responsibility, traditional bonsai artistry, and practical permaculture principles.
Structured around the GADIE framework (Goal, Analyse, Design, Implement, Evaluate), the design offers a model for instructional sustainability. It utilises tools such as SWOC analysis, Pattern Language, and resource mapping to align pedagogy with regenerative practices. The result is a replicable, flexible blueprint for teaching bonsai that is ecologically sound, culturally rooted, and experientially rich.
The workshop is divided into three synergistic modules:
Bonsai Culture & Sustainable Care introduces participants to the philosophical and practical roots of bonsai with a focus on sustainable methods.
Styling with Intent – Pruning Bonsai teaches ecological pruning through permaculture principles such as seasonal awareness, minimal intervention, and system feedback.
Stress-Free Bonsai Repotting explores soil health, timing, and the long-term well-being of bonsai trees, making the invisible processes of growth visible and intentional.
A fourth module supports community building and reflective feedback. Together, these modules cultivate not just technical skill but a deeper ecological literacy and ethical grounding. The boot camp is supported by reusable resources, a low-waste ethos, and digital materials, with future updates planned to incorporate a standalone permaculture introduction module.
Ultimately, this design transforms a simple workshop into a living model of regenerative education, where learning, community, and care for the natural world take root together.
Framework: GADIE Instructional Design Framework
Focus: Sustainable bonsai cultivation, permaculture-integrated learning, and ecological pedagogy
Tools: SWOC Analysis, Pattern Language, Resource Audit, Participant Feedback Loop
Document Format: PDF
Total Length: 34 pages
Estimated Read Time: 35–40 minutes