Keeping track of time.....

and other resources.

How are you all planning to do this?
One of my many weak spots is failing to keep records. So often I go back to my notebooks and find I've missed out recording whole bunches of data. Some things, like planting dates may be on photos, but although I photograph a lot I don't photograph everything.

Computer spreadsheets are great, unless you have dirty hands from planting....

I guess my main problem is discipline - how to keep at it and not forget.

Paul wants -
resources used
costs
time
harvest amounts (and calculated calories)

anything else?

Help?

So far, I'm trying to discuss time right in the video segments that I'm capturing.

Christopher Weeks wrote:So far, I'm trying to discuss time right in the video segments that I'm capturing.

Yes, like photos it's an instant record as you go.
I'm not finding the video side very natural, and am actually quite glad I'm not able to take part properly this year. Hopefully next year I will have a better technique! Gardening and cameras don't really go together, perhaps I ought to have bought a cheap mobile phone after all!

I'm not participating this year but I am being pretty meticulous with my seed-starting records.  Last year I ran out of steam and abandoned them about two months in.  This year my total number of pages has already exceeded last year's.  I designed them on a spreadsheet program and printed them out.  Then each page goes into sheet protectors inside of a vinyl notebook.  The key is recording the data constantly.  For instance I record the date seeds were sown, date germinates, when they were potted up and transplanted.  I also notate whether I provided additional heat and have ample space for notes alongside each variety.  When I'm planting numerous varieties (peppers earlier in the week), I often notate the varieties on a scrap of paper as I label them and transfer the information when my hands are cleaner. I also have a similar sheet for keeping track of cuttings.  I try to never take the notebook outside simply because it will likely get forgotten and even with sheet protectors, it would be subject to getting wet.  I don't do computer records because of time and practicality but will probably transfer my data from this growing season into a spreadsheet over the winter.  I also successfully had my land classified as agricultural last year for tax purposes and keeping records of plants raised and total amounts of harvest were necessary.  I keep a digital kitchen scale in my shed for keeping track of harvests and write the totals on a dry erase board.  When the board is full I take my notebook to the shed and transfer the information.  

It's really a matter of staying on top of things and taking notes every day. My previous jobs were focused on accounting and bookkeeping and to be honest I grew to hate it so much that I was reluctant to keep any accurate records beyond our business as I wanted to leave that behind me.  However, my notes from previous years (even when incomplete) have proven invaluable.

There are speech to text apps that increasingly do a wonderful job of transcribing your notes into one place. You can go in later and edit. Even if there are times the app mis-hears you, context will normally provide the correct words.

Otter is one, but it's $$. There are others.

j

Never thought of speech to text apps but that could be a great thing.  I used to utilize voice recorders or recording apps when I had hour long commutes.

Not sure if this applies to this scenario but I use the free apps Clockify and Notion.  Clockify is a quick and easy way to track my time.  Notion is my To-Do list tracker.  Both are pretty intuitive for me to use.

Nancy Reading wrote:and other resources.

How are you all planning to do this?
One of my many weak spots is failing to keep records. So often I go back to my notebooks and find I've missed out recording whole bunches of data. Some things, like planting dates may be on photos, but although I photograph a lot I don't photograph everything.

Computer spreadsheets are great, unless you have dirty hands from planting....

I guess my main problem is discipline - how to keep at it and not forget.

Paul wants -
resources used
costs
time
harvest amounts (and calculated calories)

anything else?

Help?

Have you tried cellophane wrap on your keyboard? Keeps it handy whatever you may run into.

I think I am going to do a once-a week compilation of the week's videos. Probably sunday afternoons. That's what I will submit to the permies website. That means,  once a week, I will be taking space to calculate costs, time, harvests.

I am hoping this weekly chore stays pretty small, since I should only have recorded a couple gardening sessions in-between submissions. If I plan this little accounting into the week, hopefully, I won't stress over it the rest of the week.