🪴 Why I Keep a Garden Notebook (And You Might Want to, Too)

Every season, I swear I’m going to remember what worked.

But let’s be honest — once the chaos of spring hits and the seed trays are stacked higher than my coffee mugs, my brain turns to compost. 🧠🌱

That’s why I started keeping a gardening notebook — a down-to-earth, no-pressure space where I jot down what actually happens out there in the dirt. Wins, flops, weird bug sightings — it all goes in there.

And let me tell you… it’s become one of the most powerful tools in our garden.

🌻 Why Bother with a Garden Notebook?

Because memory lies, friends. I think I’ll remember when I planted those beans or what I added to the compost pile last fall — but nope. By midsummer I can’t even remember what day it is.

Writing things down helps me:

✅ Track what I planted, where, and when

 ✅ Record weird weather that messed things up

 ✅ Log pest battles and what (if anything) helped

 ✅ Save ideas for next year (like “don’t plant zucchini by the cucumbers again 🤦‍♀️”)

 ✅ Celebrate progress — even if it’s just “planted peas on time for once!”

If you're a hands-on learner like me, flipping back through old notes feels like reading a letter from your past self. It's oddly comforting — and surprisingly helpful.

✍️ What Kind of Notebook Should You Use?

Whatever you’ll actually write in! I've tried everything from dollar store spiral notebooks to fancy hardcover journals to online trackers. Here's what I’ve learned:

🧷 Simple Spiral Notebook

Perfect for rough-and-ready notes while you’re elbow-deep in compost.

Pros:

• Cheap

• Easy to grab and scribble in

Cons:

• Flimsy in wet weather

• Harder to organize by topic

👉 Check out these waterproof garden notebooks on Amazon – they hold up even when you drop them in the mulch.

📓 Hardcover Garden Journal

If you want something sturdier (and maybe prettier), go with a hardcover.

Pros:

• Feels more intentional

• Easier to organize sections or months

Cons:

• Pricier

• Less portable if you like to take notes outside

I’ve used this refillable leather journal for a couple of seasons — makes me feel like a Victorian plant explorer. 🌿

💻 Digital or Online Garden Logs

Handy if you're already on your phone while gardening (no shame).

Pros:

• Easy to search

• Shareable with garden buddies

Cons:

• Less tactile

• Not great if you want to sketch layouts or tape seed packets in

  
  

📘 What to Include in Your Garden Journal

There are no rules here — just write down what matters to you. Here's what usually ends up in mine:

🪴 Planting Dates & Varieties – So I know what went where and how long things took

 💧 Watering & Fertilizing – Did I forget to feed the tomatoes again?

 🐛 Pests/Diseases – Who showed up and how I (tried to) handle it

 🌤️ Weather Notes – Late frosts, heatwaves, random hailstorms

 ✂️ Harvest Dates & Yields – Super helpful for planning next year

 📝 Lessons Learned – My favorite section — I write like I’m talking to future me

✨ Want a shortcut?

 Grab my free printable Seedling Checklist + Garden Journal Starter Pages 👉 Download it here

🗂️ Organizing Your Notes (Without Losing Your Mind)

I like keeping one journal per season. It makes flipping through old years way easier.

You could also use:

• A 3-ring binder with dividers (planting, pest control, harvest logs…)

  
  

• A digital spreadsheet (great for calculating yields)

  
  

• Or even a wall calendar in the garden shed!

  
  

Whatever works for your brain — just keep it consistent.

🛒 Favorite Tools I Use Alongside My Garden Journal

Here are a few things I keep close when I’m note-taking or planning:

 📷 Instant camera or photo printer — perfect for adding photos to your journal

(Those are affiliate links — if you use them, you help support my little homestead at no extra cost. Thanks!)

🌾 A Journal That Grows With You

Whether you're just starting out or you’ve been growing your own food for years, a gardening notebook gives you a space to reflect, improve, and celebrate your journey.

Because let's be real — this lifestyle isn’t just about tomatoes and compost. It’s about learning, experimenting, and growing something beautiful... even if the first batch of carrots looked like twisted garden goblins. 😅🥕

So grab a notebook — any notebook — and start writing down your garden life.

You’ll thank yourself next season. Promise.

🧺 Bonus: Get My Garden Planner & Checklist Bundle

Want to start tracking without overthinking it?

🌱 Download the Homestead Garden Starter Pack — includes:

✅ A printable garden journal starter

 ✅ Monthly planting calendar (with Wisconsin zone 5 dates!)

 ✅ Seedling checklist

 ✅ Bonus: My top organic fertilizers cheat sheet