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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Best program to track garden/fig progress is….
 
 


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Rayvino

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

I had always kept a spiral notebook to handwrite all of my notes from the garden each year, vegetables, figs, blueberries etc. 

Last year I decided to start using Microsoft OneNote since I already subscribe to Office365.  What I like about OneNote is that I can keep a running log of notes, insert photos, pdfs, internet links and even when I copy info from this forum a link back to the post is automatically included.

It has a really powerful search feature and the best part is that it automatically syncs to the OneNote app on my Iphone/Ipad and I can log in from any computer anywhere to post or update information.

What do you use?
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eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
MS OneNote is what I started using last year.  I now have 2 years records, love the features, especially that I can use it on my iPhone and computer.  I use a different tab for each plant.  Have one page under each tab for notes, a separate one for any pics. 
I have another tab for keeping a to do list, another for my current plant list, another for my wish list.  I also have a listing of cuttings I have promised to different folks.   I keep a ripening order for each year.  I am more organized with this program, love it!
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Ed
Zone 6A - Southwest PA     
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
ADelmanto

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I had everything in my laptop on Excel. I had notes on every fig ever discussed on this forum and then a whole lot more. I had fig lists from collections around the world. I had every year notes of what I got and from who. What fig ripened when and what country it was from cross refrenced with cold hardiness and flavor. Then, my laptop crashed. I don't even know what varieties I have right now. I surely don't remember who they were all from. Word to the wise. Whatever you do make sure you have a backup.
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Rayvino

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
@eboone - wow you are certainly much more organized than I am.  I like how you have everything under separate tabs, I have one tab labeled garden then within that individual pages labeled figs, blueberries, strawberries but I think I might have to make a tab just for figs since joining this forum not only has my yard started to fill up but also my OneNote! 

The search feature is really powerful, if you have a diagram or image with words in it you can right click on the image and make the words in the image it searchable.
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Rayvino

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
@ADelmanto  - I don't know what I would do if I lost all of my data.  We use MS OneDrive to back up our data, works in the cloud like Dropbox or GoogleDrive.  In addition we use a separate back up program called CrashPlan which backs everything up to a separate cloud and keeps multiple revisions.  It would back up Excel files with no problem.
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AltadenaMara

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I tried to set up an Excel file with each fig name linking off to a Word file on each fig. But there are so many figs I gave up after a few days.
 
My original Word file is okay and has survived one computer crash. On the Word file at the top there is a list of each fig tree in alphabetical order and their sources, breba, and smyra info. Below the list is each fig with pictures, comments, posts, where they're planted and a list of cuttings that failed. There are 67 pages now in the file.
The top list I print out for hand inventory and mark: G=ground, 1=1 gallon, a triangle for 5 gallon and a square for 15 gallon. A hard copy is easier to drag around the garden and grab when I make labels than the new laptop. 
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Mara  Southern California  Zone 1990= 9b   2012= 10a  2020=?

 
Rayvino

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Mara - MS Word is great I use it everyday.  You and the others have given me some ideas, I think I will create a page in OneNote for each fig I have, all of the information including pictures of their progress during the year (s). 

That's one of the things I like about OneNote, from the OneNote App on my IPhone I can take a picture of the plant and it will go directly into OneNote where I want it.  You can also insert pictures into Word of course, just a few more steps.  For example the pictures help me remember where I planted my tomatoes each year since I like to rotate them into different raised beds.
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