The importance of keeping a garden journal

I first became fascinated with herbs, herbal remedies, alternative beauty, etc. when I was 9 years old. I wish I had been encouraged to record my ideas, concoctions, and finding back then. Imagine the knowledge I'd have accumulated in close to 30 years! My grandmother had a book of herbal skincare by Margaret Roberts, a very well-known South African herbalist, that I would page through over and over again whenever we visited. She eventually gave me the book because of my love for it.

A few years later at age around 16, I met Margaret Roberts at a health and wellness event. I was the youngest person there by 30+ years! I got that book signed, she inscribed it "May your interest in herbs grow and grow, may you always find pleasure in using them." and it certainly has, to the point of obsession! Margaret Roberts started her garden journal at age 7 in a school notebook and went on to write many many books. She passed away in 2017 at the age of 80, having kept records for 73 years! She’s the inspiration behind my garden journal.

We're returning to and yearning for the days when soaps were handmade, food was made from scratch, and herbs and vegetables were an integral part of your garden instead of manicured lawns. Getting started with gardening can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! Starting or maintaining a garden is thrilling and is something to be proud of that you'll want to talk about to anyone who’ll listen to you!

One of the keys to a successful garden and making use of your produce efficiently is organization and record keeping. Knowing what and when you planted something makes it so much easier to know when to expect germination and when you can harvest. You think you'll remember the date you planted a particular item, but unless it's a very memorable date like an anniversary or birthday... you probably won't. Especially when the gardening bug truly bites and you plant like you're planting for hundreds of people instead of just your immediate family!

All these things are tied together! You'll likely find yourself exploring them more and more over time. Here's my encouragement to you: make note-taking a habit. A habit that will become a lifestyle! These notes add up over time and eventually become a journal. It's never too late or too early to start keeping records like these. You are gathering a wealth of knowledge and information to hand down and go back to, so encourage your children who show a keen interest in these topics, too!

Like sourdough starters can be handed down to future generations, so can your journal. Imagine your future generations sitting curled up with your handwritten notebook of plentiful sketches of herbs and vegetables, notes on oils, salves and tinctures, canning, fermenting, and preserving...You're creating a legacy and sharing knowledge gained that would otherwise be forgotten by future generations. It starts with us!

I have the printable garden journal available as a pdf for R45 or $2.50. I'll email the pdf upon payment through paypal or bank transfer. Comment below if you would like a copy. Each copy sold brings me so much joy and enables me to create more printables while helping to support my family.
Lauren