===== Chronological record keeping =====

Last year I wrote down planting dates and other significant events in a book something like a journal. I don't find this very helpful, first from the viewpoint of keeping track of the book, second in being able to quickly find a specific item.

==== Photo records ====

In 2013 I snapped a lot of photos of the results of our activities and the date stamp on these has provided basic chronological info. And by adding keywords and descriptions I can quickly search for specific topics.

==== Phone app ====

In mid-Summer 2014 I explored using a mobile phone with the Evernote application to record photos and comments. That approach didn't work well as-is because of peculiarities on Evernote. However, I did manage to use it in this way:
  * I capture the scene with my phone's camera.
  * At home on my desktop computer:
    * I name each event, and add keywords and descriptions
    * I export photos from my collection specifically for Evernote.
    * I type in the comments for the day into Evernote.

    * I attach the photos to the day's comments.

<note>I no longer try to make Evernote work for me</note>

I can imagine a revised Evernote app that effectively added pictures on-site as I recorded what I had done, but that's not the case yet.

==== Continuous temperature and humidity monitoring ====

{{:garden:cultivate:tasks:history:hobo_datalogger.jpg?200 |Bluetooth data logger}}HOBO data logger to monitor temperature and humidity and log each at 30-second intervals. It saves the readings so that I can read the via a Bluetooth wireless connection with the HOBOconnect app on my mobile phone.

{{ :garden:cultivate:tasks:history:img_sunshield_6281.jpeg?120|radiation shield}}The data logger is in a solar radiation shield to reduce heating from direct sunlight.

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==== Data saved in a spreadsheet ====

I pay attention to the high and low temperatures, the average high temperature and the average low temperature, and summarize by month. During season changes I evaluate the temperature readings to make decisions about when to sow or transplant, or to arrange for cover material to protect the plants. Such information serves well in a new season or at the end of a season.

{{:garden:cultivate:tasks:history:2025-10-12_at_4.39.49.jpg?600 |}}