diff --git a/docs/build/sandboxes.md b/docs/build/sandboxes.md
index a3e46331a0e..436fe8aade1 100644
--- a/docs/build/sandboxes.md
+++ b/docs/build/sandboxes.md
@@ -279,3 +279,24 @@ If you're working with several sandboxes in one workspace, two things help:
   the parent project or each other.
 - `openfn project checkout <project>` switches the active project in the
   workspace. Use it to flip between sandboxes you've already pulled.
+
+## Best practices
+
+Sandboxes map neatly onto git branches, and the workflows that work best treat
+them the same way.
+
+**Create one sandbox per piece of work.** Give each new feature, fix, or issue
+its own sandbox, rather than sharing one long-lived `testing` sandbox across
+several people and several changes. Small, short-lived sandboxes are easier to
+review and much less likely to conflict when you merge.
+
+**Stack sandboxes when work depends on earlier work.** If a sandbox has to live
+for a while (waiting on a review or a release window, say) and you want to start
+something that builds on it, create a sandbox of that sandbox instead of merging
+early just to unblock yourself. Sandboxes nest up to the configured depth. Do
+the same in git: branch the dependent work off the feature branch rather than
+off main.
+
+**Avoid building directly on the main project.** Changes made there are live,
+and they turn up in the merge of every other sandbox as a diverged workflow.
+Start in a sandbox, then merge back when the change is ready.