Garden Blueprint
The Garden Blueprint is a collaborative design service delivered remotely or in-person that creates a clear vision for your space and a practical roadmap to bring it to life. We limit the number of projects we take on to ensure every client receives a thoughtful, high-quality experience.
Beautiful, productive and shaped around the way you live
Every great garden starts with a plan.
Whether you’re dreaming of abundant harvests, beautiful outdoor spaces or a place that brings family and nature together —thoughtful design makes all the difference.
The Garden Blueprint is a collaborative design service delivered remotely worldwide or in-person that creates a clear vision for your space and a practical roadmap to bring it to life.
Get your garden design right the first time
BLUEPRINT BENEFITS
A site-specific plan, designed with you
Through one-on-one collaborative sessions, we'll shape a garden plan around your specific site, goals and lifestyle ensuring that the design is both practical and personal.
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Expert guidance
Drawing on deep experience in architecture, permaculture & food-growing systems, you’ll receive guidance that balances the productivity & aesthetic outcomes you want to achieve.
02
Avoid costly mistakes
Our design framework considers critical information such as climate, sun path, slope & soil conditions. Robust decisions upfront prevent expensive & time-consuming rework later.
03
Move forward with confidence
From the big-picture layout to the practical next steps, you'll have a roadmap that removes guesswork so that you can bring your garden vision into focus.
04
BLUEPRINT SCOPE
Everything you need
to get started
Through a collaborative design process, we'll create a site-specific design for up to 1 acre of area, and a clear path forward for bringing it to life.
Your final Garden Blueprint pack includes:
To-scale garden concept design
Dimensioned layout
Water demand & tank sizing calculations
Site analysis summary
Implementation staging overlay
Design notes & recommendations
Access to ongoing support for your project
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![A detailed landscape design plan for a property, showing various planting areas, pathways, a house, a greenhouse, and different garden features labeled with notes on plants and materials, with a scale and north arrow included.]()
To-scale concept design
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![Landscape architectural plan showing property boundaries, a house, patio, driveway, beech trees, and arrows indicating warm summer and cold winter winds.]()
Basemap with site conditions
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![Landscape architectural site plan showing pathways, green areas, trees, building footprints, and measurements for a project by Pomona Landscape Design.]()
Dimensioned layout
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![A landscape design plan with charts and data related to climate, water demand, and irrigation for a landscape project by Pomona. The document includes graphs showing monthly rainfall, water demand, and seasonal water surplus or deficit.]()
Water demand calculations
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![Landscape site plan for a project with labeled stages, pathways, and landscaping features. The plan includes a building outline, green areas, and multiple stages marked with different colors and dashed lines.]()
Implementation staging overlay
ABOUT BEN STRONG
A multidisciplinary perspective
Few practitioners combine expertise in architecture, landscape design and productive systems. Ben Strong is a Registered Architect, certified Permaculture Landscape Designer with over 10 years of design experience. Ben brings an integrated perspective that helps uncover opportunities and create more cohesive outcomes for your property.
How we’ll work together
BLUEPRINT PROCESS
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We'll send you a form to share the details of your garden site, including photos and videos. Ahead of your first session, Ben will review your information, research your climate, and prepare a scaled basemap with key site features including a sunpath diagram.
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Delivery method: Online meeting or in-person during site visit
Duration: 1 hour
What we’ll cover:
We'll talk through your goals and ambitions for your garden, establishing what matters to you most.
Next we'll discuss your property and analyse all the important features including water capture and storage, access, structures, existing vegetation, slope, orientation, and more. Through this process we can understand the unique conditions of your land.
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Delivery method: Online meeting or in-person during site visit
Duration: 1 - 1.5 hours
What we’ll cover:
Now it’s time to lay out the key features of your garden. This could include:
Annual & perennial garden beds (fruit trees, ornamentals etc)
Orchard / food forest
Structures such as greenhouses, garden sheds, tanks, retaining walls, pergolas and chicken / duck runs
Composting area
Paths
Windbreaks
Natural swimming pool
We'll look at hardscaping materials, and work through the best plants for each area of the garden.
By the end of the process, we will have a refined garden layout tailored to your goals and context.
Please note:
This service allows for a total garden design area of up to 1 acre. The Garden Blueprint process does not allow for the inclusion of the following elements:
Dams & ponds
Grazing / pasture areas
Animal enclosures other than for chickens or ducks
House & garage
Sheds / barns other than small garden sheds
Plumbing / electricals & other services
Septic and other wastewater systems
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Delivery method: Online meeting
Duration: 1 hour
What we’ll cover:
We'll dive into the topics of your choosing, as well as how to stage the implementation of your design.
What we discuss will depend on your context, skill level, and the parts of managing or building your garden where you require the most guidance. Common topics include:
Composting
Chicken-keeping
Seed raising
Pest management
Soil health
Crop planning
The goal is to ensure that you are clear on the next steps, and feel confident moving forward.
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Ben will package up your Garden Blueprint and send it through to you. The final document will include:
To-scale concept design with annotations
Dimensioned layout in feet or metres
Water demand & tank sizing calculations
Site analysis summary including climate data, sun path & key site features
Design notes & recommendations
Design with Ben from anywhere
Delivered remotely or in-person, this service allows us to work together wherever you're located.
Ben has worked with clients all over the world, in a range of climates and contexts. Whilst each geographic region has its own unique challenges and opportunities, the principles of permaculture provide a robust framework for creating productive landscapes.
IN-PERSON UPGRADE
Garden Blueprint Plus
Enhance the Blueprint process with a 2 hour on-site session and detailed design additions tailored to your needs.
Plus, choose from a range of additional services including:
Detailed perennial planting layout & plant purchase list
Irrigation layout & parts list
Seasonal crop planning
Ben is based in Melbourne. If you're located outside Melbourne, travel costs will be discussed and quoted as part of your package.
Matthew Ankeny
California, USA
“It was great to have these sessions with Ben over the past months. It gave the right support, structure and guidance at the right time for me to move from abstract ideas to concrete action.”
“Ben helped me map my garden from big-picture strategy to detailed next steps. I feel clear, confident and excited to grow. 1000% worth it.”
“It was great to have these sessions with Ben over the past months. It gave the right support, structure and guidance at the right time for me to move from abstract ideas to concrete action.”
Martin Van de Pas
Rekem, Belgium
Martin Van de Pas
Rekem, Belgium
“Ben has saved me from so much trial and error in the garden. Instead of guessing what might work, I now have a realistic plan that actually suits my space and lifestyle. Ben's advice was gold. Highly recommend!”
Becky Remedios
Melbourne, Australia
Becky Remedios
Melbourne, Australia
“Ben has saved me from so much trial and error in the garden. Instead of guessing what might work, I now have a realistic plan that actually suits my space and lifestyle. Ben's advice was gold. Highly recommend!”
“Ben really helped me to clarify the plan, his suggestions were brilliant and the final design is just about perfect!”
Anatta Cartier
Victoria, Australia
Anatta Cartier
Victoria, Australia
“Ben really helped me to clarify the plan, his suggestions were brilliant and the final design is just about perfect!”
“We could not be happier with the work Ben has done with us.”
Ben provided us with a personalised plan and design for our garden that catered to our interests and availability. He is very personable, positive, excited and knowledgeable about plants and soil health.
Cam & Jenny Gill
Trentham, Victoria
Secure your Garden Blueprint
AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED AND FILLING
REMOTE
Garden Blueprint
$1450 AUD
A collaborative design service delivered remotely to clients anywhere in the world. Everything you need to kickstart your garden.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
3 online design sessions
To-scale garden concept design
Dimensioned layout
Water demand & tank sizing calculations
Site analysis summary
Implementation staging overlay
Design notes & recommendations
Access to ongoing support
IN-PERSON
Garden Blueprint Plus
From $1950 AUD
A hands-on design service for clients located in Australia, with detailed design additions tailored to your needs.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
2 hour session at your property*
1 hour online design session
To-scale garden concept design
Dimensioned layout
Water demand & tank sizing calculations
Site analysis summary
Implementation staging overlay
Design notes & recommendations
Access to ongoing support
DETAILED DESIGN ADDITIONS
Full perennial plant layout & qty. list (+ $1600)
Irrigation layout & parts list (+ $500)
Seasonal crop plan (+ $800)
* Starting price includes 2 hours of total travel time from Melbourne. Travel costs will be calculated based on your location.
"I’d highly recommend Ben to anyone looking for intelligent, realistic garden design support."
Matthew Aitken
Spessart, Germany
GARDEN BLUEPRINT
Register your interest
Ready to transform your garden? Complete the form to register your interest and tell us a little about your project.
We limit the number of Garden Blueprint projects we take on to ensure every client receives the time, care and personalised guidance their project deserves.
For in-person projects located more than one hour from Melbourne, travel is quoted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Ben has worked with clients remotely from Australia, USA, Europe and Asia.
The process combines detailed site information, photos, videos, aerial imagery and three collaborative design sessions to build a clear understanding of your property, priorities and constraints.
The result is a practical, concept-level garden design that establishes the overall layout, key features and direction for your garden. While detailed design is not included for remote-only clients, the Blueprint provides the clarity and guidance needed to move your project forward successfully.
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The Garden Blueprint is best suited to residential gardens and lifestyle properties. The service covers up to 1 acre of design area of your choosing (i.e. front and back garden).
Larger or more complex properties may be better suited to a Property Masterplan.
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We can cover a wide range of garden elements, such as productive and ornamental planting, orchards, food forests, paths, windbreaks, composting areas, natural swimming pools, greenhouses, pergolas, tanks, retaining walls, small garden sheds and chicken or duck runs.
The service does not include the design of the following elements:
Dams or ponds
Grazing or pasture areas
Animal enclosures other than chicken or duck runs
Houses or garages
Barns or sheds other than small garden sheds
Plumbing, electrical or other services
Septic or wastewater systems
Projects involving these broader elements may be better suited to the Property Masterplan service.
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The Garden Blueprint includes three collaborative design sessions, with time between each session for site analysis, design development and refinement.
You can schedule the sessions at a pace that suits your project, provided all three are completed within three months of purchase. This gives you flexibility to gather information, consider the design and make thoughtful decisions without losing momentum.
Garden Blueprint Plus clients may run beyond three months depending on additional detailed design deliverables.
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The process is collaborative. You will contribute your goals, preferences and ground-level knowledge of the property which you’ll share through photos, videos, plans etc. You will also be asked to perform a simple at-home soil test.
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Yes. Your Blueprint includes a to-scale concept, dimensioned layout, staging plan, design notes and practical recommendations to help you move forward. You can complete the work yourself, engage contractors, or access ongoing design support as the project develops.
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The Blueprint identifies key planting areas and provides overall planting direction.
A detailed perennial planting plan and plant list can be added for Garden Blueprint Plus clients who would like species selection, quantities and a fully resolved planting scheme.
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Yes. After your Garden Blueprint is complete, you can add ongoing support to work through questions, make informed decisions and keep your project moving as you implement the design.
For Australian clients who choose the Garden Blueprint Plus, optional detailed plans are also available for planting, irrigation and seasonal food growing.
Please note that implementation support is advisory and does not include construction, contractor management or project management.
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To get started, complete the registration form above and tell us a little about your project. We’ll review your enquiry and be in touch with availability, next steps and a payment link.