Would you like to design your own garden?

Would you like to have a plan for your garden? A red – green – wire that gives you tools to really get started in your garden. Are you eager to really get started with shapes and lines for your garden? Do you want to be able to do it whenever you choose and do you think online learning is a great way to get started? Then this online garden design studio is probably something for you!

Design your own garden

Online with guidance

You can start creating your garden plan at your own pace . You will receive accompanying emails that will move you to the next step. All steps are easy and manageable: anyone can do this!

You will also receive the book 'Get your garden moving', a garden diary and a workbook full of tips and useful facts that you can immediately apply in your own garden.

You also have access to a friendly community where you can ask all your questions. The idea is that you don't get stuck with your questions!

Once a week we hold a 'live' feedback moment where you can ask all your questions. Everything is self-explanatory. And if you have a question, you can always contact me.

You don't do it alone!

The eight modules are the basis of this online course, but the greatest value lies in the fact that we will each design and shape our own garden TOGETHER. We meet (approximately) weekly in the Online Atelier Café (in zoom) to discuss your garden and resolve questions. We will visit gardens and nurseries together . You can join a 'live' workshop or co-creation morning around the real table. You help form the cozy garden family that we create around the Online Atelier Garden Design. All ideas and suggestions are always very welcome!

Approach

The online course consists of 8 modules , each consisting of a video, text, photos and examples, useful tips. This allows you to work on your garden at your own pace. You will immediately have access to all information for 12 months (or longer if you wish).

In this course the focus is on creating an ecological dream spot in your garden where nature (and you too!) comes completely to life.

We build it up step by step. It is accessible and feasible for everyone to draw your own garden plan. The first four modules focus on searching and finding the right shapes and lines. During the next four modules we fill in the garden plan with plants and sustainable materials. Design your own garden and you will have a clear garden plan with a complete plant plan in 2 months.

Library with ecological information

The Online Garden Design Atelier is also packed with extra information about ecological gardens : interesting plant lists, easy plant combinations that you can immediately copy in your own garden, information about materials and how you can, for example, build a pond yourself.

Online Atelier Cafés

We meet almost weekly - online in Zoom - to discuss a specific module, a specific garden theme or your garden. The recordings are also available afterwards if you cannot attend live.

Accompaniment

My name is Sofie, founder of Tuinen in Beweging and I supervise this course. With my master's degree in bioscience engineering, I have a heart for all living things and with my year of training as a garden and landscape architect, I (re)discovered the artist within myself to create beautiful shapes and lines with plants. I have been designing my clients' gardens with heart and soul since 2007.

The satisfaction I get from designing a garden is great and I would like to pass on that feeling. If you would like to design your own garden, but you don't know how to get started, then this course is perfect for you! I give you tools to do this in an easy and pleasant way.

So you don't do it alone. I will be traveling with you and your garden for 12 months. You can forward your garden questions and I will be happy to answer them via additional videos, with text and explanations and in the online meetings.

What can you expect?

• You will have your garden plan in your hands within 2 months. This is the start of your dream garden.
• 8 online video modules under professional guidance and practical advice to apply in your own garden
• Inspiring discovery in the garden where you gradually learn and see the design principles applied
• Small and achievable homework assignments that move you step-by-step towards a more beautiful garden
• Bring change to your garden in a pleasant way and at your own pace
• Let a new breath of fresh air blow through your garden, like a pleasant breeze that you enjoy so much
• You do the modules at your own pace and can repeat them an infinite number of times over 1 year
• You will receive an accompanying email for each module during the first cycle you start, at the rhythm of the moon (because that is a very natural rhythm)
• We also provide an interactive online moment every week during the cycle where you can ask questions so that you keep moving. This consists of a substantive thematic part (+/-30 minutes) and asking questions.
• Access to this course for a year to fine-tune your plan until it is just right. (also extendable if you wish)
• I make it as easy as possible for you with simple tips & tricks and super handy lists so that you can easily take big steps in your garden.

Contents of the eight modules

15 reasons why this garden design course is for you:

Start dates

The course starts when you have registered! You can start immediately after registering. We complete the 8 modules in two months.

All modules are and will remain available to you for 1 year. Or longer if you need it. So you have plenty of time to access all the information, so you can do it again and again until your garden plan is completely right.

It is really my intention that you can take this course at your own pace. I regularly give you inspiration and ideas to get started so that you keep moving.

We also meet live online every week in a friendly group to discuss certain themes or answer questions that you may have.

You can also register to participate in garden visits, co-creation mornings, workshops, etc

Are you ready for a beautiful garden? Let's do this!

Do you have any questions about the Online Garden Design Atelier?

Are you still in doubt? Send me an email and I will give you an honest answer whether this is something for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is what customers say...

Creating my garden step by step

“Choosing online Atelier Garden Design gives me the opportunity to design my garden at my own pace. With the necessary feedback and tips from Sofie, I can create my own ideas to arrive at a design in which I feel connected to what I need in my garden. It is creating something step by step, in order to grow something that is feasible in a natural process and thus get everything out of it that I want. It is creating a garden that I can fully enjoy. It is creating something that offers something fun and beautiful for every season and where I can completely relax. The online Atelier garden design also works on the rhythm of the moon, which I also think is a very nice feature.

I have not yet fully completed the modules, but I can say that it is a very fun process to do it and I am looking at it and I am curious about my final design.” -Katrien

The OAT is the ideal formula for us!

“We had been looking for someone who could help us with a garden plan for some time.

But which landscape architect had the right style, what would it cost and, above all, would he or she listen to our needs?

Then I saw Sofie's Online Atelier...the ideal formula for us: we can work out our plans together as a couple and choose the moment ourselves. You will be provided with a lot of knowledge, but in manageable chunks. The variety between videos and exercises makes it interesting and if you have any questions, Sofie is willing to provide extra help. She teaches in a calm manner and gives you the confidence to continue.

We are only halfway through the course, but we already have the feeling that it will be a garden that we will feel good in, with a natural character and many cozy places. “ - Dear

The process is a pleasant mix of very practical concrete assignments and dreams

“In Sofie's online garden studio you are taken step by step through a process, with a pleasant mix of very practical, concrete assignments and dreams. She ensures that you become aware of what can make your garden a dream garden and what is important to you. You will be helped to arrive at your own style and to consider things that you would not think of yourself. What I personally like very much is that Sofie relates the entire process to the bigger picture in which we live: the elements earth, water, fire and air, the moon cycle, the senses, the seasons and the need to seek sustainable solutions. This means that the entire process goes deeper and extends beyond the final result.” - Ingrid

This Atelier is extremely highly recommended!

“The Online Atelier Garden Design is a lot for the price of one. It is of course a course, so I learned a lot about gardens, space, plans and plants. But the real added value lay in the 'side effects'. Gradually discovering and defining what we actually wanted, at our own pace and with good guidance. 'We', because it was wonderful to involve the whole family in the exercise and to be able to include everyone's dreams. My own creative side was also brought out again (from my childhood, that satisfaction of a colored pencil on paper!).

For those who want to 'do something with the garden' themselves, but do not yet know what, when, and whether or not you need a landscape architect, the Atelier is the ideal and accessible way to no longer do it (because that may lead to forever). Even if it turns out that your project exceeds your own capabilities, it is not a waste of effort. It then becomes valuable input for Sofie to continue working on her professional design, and that makes the dialogue with her much smoother. It's also a lot more exciting to educate your internal designer and bring them to the (drawing) table than to tell someone: 'This is the terrain. Make something beautiful out of it!' This Atelier is extremely highly recommended!” - Kristien

The OAT is the way to a beautiful and manageable garden plan!

“Something is moving in Sofie's online garden studio. She takes you virtually by the hand and guides you step by step from idea to implementation . In the studio you can really think about your dream garden, with a lot of interest in a realistic interpretation. Sofie encourages, without forcing. She provides ecological inspiration, but does not impose anything. An obstacle? No problem, you ask your question in the forum or the online garden workshop and Sofie answers from her knowledge. This wealth of current knowledge can also be found in the plant lists, diagrams, examples, etc. Thanks to a mix of information and interaction, you get the right trigger for a beautiful and manageable garden plan!” - Ines

I proudly receive compliments about my garden.

“I would have preferred to have Sofie design my garden, but because of the distance we did not organize it that way. Instead, Sofie recommended her Online Atelier to me, and as I went through it I became more and more enthusiastic. It is very nice to be able to design your own dream garden.

Clear and structured, but not forceful, Sofie takes you through the process of arriving at a great plan. You will have a lot of fun and you may even discover more about yourself in addition to your preferences that lead to your personal garden plan.

And so I noticed that in this way my garden becomes a reflection of me and my desires, a garden that personally makes me very happy. I also received many tips about maintenance and which plant species to choose. You can always ask questions and receive detailed answers.

I am very happy that things turned out this way and that I started this adventure, it gives me a lot of satisfaction and I proudly receive the compliments about my garden. A garden that is still growing and where there is still plenty to grow. My garden is quite large.” - Carla van Veen - Blijleve

What a pleasure it is to work on it!

" I am still working on my own garden design via Sofie's Online Atelier. But what a pleasure it is to work on it!! Step by step , as indicated in the various modules.

If you like to watch, like to observe and want to give yourself the time to do this, this is recommended to everyone. You are actively involved in your garden and so you know what is really important to you. It becomes more than a garden plan, it becomes your own creation. At least, that's how I feel.

And if you have any doubts, Sofie is there to help you. Also reassures you. She looks at things with an open mind and that gives you new insights. Thank you in advance and see you soon." - Lieve

The OAT brings me a lot of pleasure

"A year ago I attended the online session 'climate-proof garden' given by garden designer Sofie Hoste in collaboration with Avansa Vlaams Brabant. My great garden wish was to transform the 2-acre front lawn into a prairie garden in the style of Piet Oudolf. Not very labor-intensive. and radiating a wonderful peace in the autumn of my life. I subscribed to the newsletter 'gardens in motion' and received as a reward a poster designed, drawn and colored by Sofie herself. I was immediately a fan... As a farmer's daughter, I received did not have the opportunity to continue my studies. I designed my own garden in the early 1990s without any background knowledge but with a lot of passion. It was my favorite hobby. The garden moved without realizing it with the rhythm of my life. Not even a year removed from my When I retired, I knew how to use my passion for nature to fill this new phase of life. Completely unexpectedly, I was diagnosed with a serious illness and my future suddenly became very uncertain. Sofie showed me the way to her 'Secret Garden' and helped me get through the dark days around the New Year. Like a wonderful garden friend, she gave me the title of a valuable book from which I could draw a lot of strength. Under difficult circumstances, the Online Atelier Garden Design has brought me a lot of pleasure. What a wealth of information! I followed the 8 OAT modules with full dedication and my climate-proof front garden plan slowly took shape. With spring approaching, this week it was my turn to discuss the preliminary garden plan in the community. As an accomplished coach, Sofie took the plan to a higher level with her experience and insights, creating the right atmosphere as I always had in mind. Sofie knows better than anyone how to ignite the fire in all her members. It doesn't matter whether you are a layman or a fanatic. Anyone can be creative, we did it as a child, spontaneously from our dreams and wishes. Sofie, I am very grateful to have crossed the path of a like-minded person and that of the other members. It is an extra incentive to persevere. Please continue as you are doing. Show the way to that own piece of earthly garden paradise because it is undoubtedly for each of us." - Kathleen

At our own pace

"We have been thinking about new ideas for our garden for years. We have a grow-along garden, but since the children have now quietly outgrown the house and the garden, we wanted to put our own soul into it. We just didn't know how. We looked for inspiration in books and in other gardens, but it didn't go further than an idea. Hiring a landscape architect was briefly an option, but we soon felt that this was not it for us. After much deliberation, we wrote to us. for your program. We were shocked by the size of the modules and the time in which we had to complete them. Our relief was great to hear that we could and were allowed to do it at our own pace. And that was necessary given that we both still work full-time. Now we are three months further and yesterday we proudly completed module 4, resulting in a first rough garden plan in which we both have the feeling of YES. We now dare to dream and experiment with ideas because that is the only way to put our soul in garden. We will continue in the coming period and we hope to be completely ready to start work by the autumn. That also gives us time to go through all the information, and there is a lot of it. Since we are not specialists, it sometimes needs to be given some time to grow. Thanks to this program we have the space to do so. Highly recommended for anyone who is looking for their individuality and wants to have it reflected in their garden. Thank you in advance Sofie." - Jo and Karin Bams - Bas

A lot of energy and creativity has been released in me

"For years, while having breakfast, I had been looking out at a piece of garden that was in urgent need of a makeover. There were ideas, but for some reason it remained a dream. Until one day my eye fell on the title Online Atelier Tuin Ontwerp by Sofie Hoste. That required more research. The idea that I could work creatively on my garden myself with the necessary help and without time pressure. That appealed to me and was just the push I needed. Every two weeks I meet people who also being in the same creative phase is inspiring. From the start of the course, a lot of energy and creativity has been unleashed in me. I don't tackle my entire garden, but start with a piece. This way it remains clear to me. Continue working on my garden to be able to browse through Sofie's virtual library, to be present at the online garden cafés and to make use of Sofie's knowledge, the ideas come naturally. Step by step I am now turning my dreams into reality. You know how it is ' what you pay attention to grows'. For me, the course should have come my way much earlier. It's definitely worth the investment. " - Hilde Claes from Heusden-Zolder

I am incredibly happy with this organic design

"In 2017 (as a gardener) I made the plan for my front garden. 4-5 years ago I had not heard much about climate-robust gardens and biodiversity. It became a sleek design. The plant compartments were provided with plastic root cloths and lots of pebbles ( classic gardener). I did the planting in a thoughtless manner with a minimum of research. I had no idea that a lot of shade was (is) needed for a south-west facing garden. At the start of the renovation of my backyard in 2021 I had it lucky to go into “garden” with Sofie and OAT. Sofie's organic approach to designing gardens immediately captivated me. It was quite an adjustment because I kept thinking in squares and rectangles. Sofie suggested flowing lines and I am now incredible happy with this organic design. I have not strictly followed Sofie's 8-step plan. I rather move from one module to the other. There is room within OAT to deviate from the standard course. As a digital person, I was at the start of my process anxious about the online studios. In the meantime I'm used to it and I look forward to the “meetings” . It should be noted that I still prefer real-life meetings, but from an organizational point of view, these online workshops are a great solution. I have spent a lot of time in recent months on, among other things: reading books and looking up plant combinations to create climate-robust, biodiverse and natural plants. I find Sofie's extensive help in completing the planting boxes very valuable. Finally, I like the idea of a “garden in motion”. I'm curious if and how the plants will survive. Thank you very much for all the help, Sofie." - Hedwig

An unexpected adventure

"I started this adventure quite unexpectedly. I live between the print and actually spend too little time in my garden. I have felt that for some time. When I received Sofie's offer for the free workshop 'get your garden moving' in my mailbox I convinced myself to register and then switched to the Online Atelier. I listened and watched the 8 modules (and the extension material) with enthusiasm and discovered the rich offering of the Learning Network. Everyone around me is amazed. about my commitment to the studio, notes that I reflect on what is there and what could become more and more beautiful - even in other people's gardens... I discovered subtle interventions that enhance the atmosphere in our garden and the connection with the beautiful views around it. It requires doing different things than I am used to: drawing to map out the garden, working on things that I was actually already interested in but ignored. Occasionally I struggle a bit with measuring and drawing work that is involved in imaging and designing. Surprising is the good advice that is generously spread in the biweekly Online Atelier Cafés , where there is room for questions and answers about your own work or that of others. At every new moon you will also be included - if you wish - in a newly created package of information about questions that arose in Q&A sessions... Sofie's creativity seems inexhaustible and she is above all infectious. I am glad that I was persuaded (by myself) to take the step and follow this new path. -Christine Dupont