Joseph Han: The English Gardener
When Joseph Han is designing outdoor spaces, one of the most important things to him is to make a space where all different types of people can share the gardening experience.
He draws from his own history with gardens. Joseph is Korean and German, born in America, and when he visited Japan as a child, he was hopeful that he would feel connected being surrounded by people who looked like him. However, being a “hybrid,” as he calls it, he stood out.
Instead of finding connection there, Joseph found joy in the beautiful gardens that they visited.
“In the garden, regardless of your ethnicity, we all enjoy the plants.”
Joseph’s passion for gardening only grew from there. For 30 years, he’s worked in gardens, designing and maintaining them. He loves his work, both the calming work atmosphere and being able to return to all the gardens he’s worked on to see the fruits of his labor.
“...what a wonderful job I have to be paid to do gardening. Working in the garden, your mind is clear. All the worries, all the passing clouds...It is a meditative experience.”
A film by Michael Chernoff.
