Grow a thought in the margin

A thoughtful collection of original notes on personal reading notes and connections between ideas. Begin with a small observation, then make room for a closer look.

Explore the journal

personal reading notes and connections between ideas — an original illustration — ILLUSTRATED STUDY / 14MARGIN ORCHARD

Margin Orchard is a place for personal reading notes and connections between ideas. Nothing elaborate is needed to begin.

From the journal

A closer look.

All six notes

01Observe

A question before reading

Write one question beside the title of the book.

02Observe

A brief margin note

Paraphrase one small point with a page reference.

03Practice

A recurring image

Track the places where a visual image returns.

04Practice

Two linked pages

Compare two passages that develop a similar idea.

05Reflect

A paragraph of response

Write what changed in your understanding.

06Reflect

A note revisited

Add a later thought without erasing the first one.

A note from the notebook

Start where you are.

Keep a book and a pencil nearby. This collection begins with a reading notebook and a simple idea: attention is something you can practice.

Find a starting point