Recommendations for starting a garden journal

Ilikeplants

This is a bit random but wondering if there is somewhere on the web that you can write and keep track of your garden exploits so you can look back on it which is useful for different seasons and years, new plants and showings etc. I have Instagram for photos with captions but I want somewhere for more rambling thoughts and records. I wouldn’t want to share it though but I would want to write short chapters and maybe revisit entries. Is this a silly idea?

WallflowerBry

Have you considered doing the old fashioned way in a paper journal?  I think it's so much more pleasant to be able to flick through the pages.  You can add little colourful sketches and diagrams etc. 
But maybe I'm just old

AnniD

It's not a silly idea, it can be very useful. I used to use Wordpress, just a blog to which l added photos. My OH set it up for me, it was private so only l could see it.
I must admit l kept forgetting to up date it, and as l keep a diary anyway l tend to write gardening details in that.
However you might find it useful, especially if you want to be able to search for something specific and not plough through pages of stuff. 
I'm sure some of the more tech savvy members can advise 

Ilikeplants

I’ve always kept paper journals which have their own charm but I guess I’m thinking I could write it on my phone at any time instead and edit it if needed. I don’t need it to have pictures as much as tell a story through time. So it will need to be something you could edit and add to when you remember it later or you get more information on it. Maybe I have to just use a word document saved in the laptop but I was thinking it’s more convenient to have on the go and write a paragraph here and there when the mood takes you.

LG_

Anni is right - a WordPress blog would probably work. There are paid options but you should be able to do the things you need free. You can organise things into themes, or do it by date, or find stuff by keyword. And you can edit whenever you like, keeping the original entry date.
I might be talking myself into doing one!

Ilikeplants

AnniD said:

It's not a silly idea, it can be very useful. I used to use Wordpress, just a blog to which l added photos. My OH set it up for me, it was private so only l could see it.
I must admit l kept forgetting to up date it, and as l keep a diary anyway l tend to write gardening details in that.
However you might find it useful, especially if you want to be able to search for something specific and not plough through pages of stuff. 
I'm sure some of the more tech savvy members can advise 

I missed your reply there @AnniD - thanks for that suggestion and @LG_ for pointing it out. Yes it’s what I was thinking for sorting into themes and also keeping private for now. I’ll look in Wordpress blog. Just something to start out small and hopefully that I can continue with as mini projects even though our digital footprint increases all the time.

AnniD

I really should have kept up with it, let's just say life got in the way !
It was very useful for looking back at "this time last year" to see how far behind or ahead the garden was, and the jobs l was doing.
 I might be talking myself into trying to update it and using it again 

Nanny Beach

Pretty paper job here, but I call it my almanac. There's always sketches of the garden,the rotation of the veg plot. I mark where new plants are,yeald of fruit,veg, everything.i cut the pictures from the plants,bulbs,that as far as I'm concerned is "cut and paste". It lives on the bookshelf,with the books (yup) and gardening mags. 

JoeX

Post your journal in the “Anyone done any garden today” thread

Biglad

I have started an excel file (for each year) with various pages monitoring what is sown/planted when and where, purchases, harvests, etc. etc. I also take a lot of photos and date them all when saving to the laptop. Only started last year but it is already interesting/useful to compare with 2020.

Do I sound like an accountant  

Lizzie27

I'm old fashioned and write in my paper garden journal most nights. I've now got 11 years worth of them stashed on my bookcase by my chair and if there's nothing on TV, I often get them out and read back. I find it's very relaxing.