The Garden Journal (Free Digital Download)
The Garden Journal: a free digital download made with your home printer. Easily assembled in a binder or it can be spiral-bound at your local copy center.
Up today is a project I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, and I’m so glad this garden journal is finished. This journal is a free digital download that’s easy to print and assemble. Any kind of journal is a personal thing…and a garden journal is no different. This one is designed so you can customize it to suit your own needs. For example, if you don’t start or plant seeds, just leave that section out. If you don’t garden in the winter, leave that section out as well. This journal is simple to use, and appropriate for both seasoned and new gardeners.
You can find detailed tips for printing and assembling your journal below. If you’ve never used a garden journal, I invite you to try this one. I had never used a garden journal before last year…and what I used was a tattered legal pad! I wish I had a record of everything I have ever planted, and the fact that I don’t is a huge regret. I plan on recording everything from now on.
Update: There are now two cover pages to choose from! Both covers are at the beginning of the PDF. Also added are divider pages for “fruits” and “trees & shrubs.”
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The Garden Journal Printing Tips
- The final three lined pages in the PDF should be printed on regular copy paper.
- This file can be easily printed on your home computer, or save it to a flash drive and have a copy center print it for you.
- Copies needed for a five year journal:
- Print front and back covers (and notebook spine if desired) on white card stock
- Print Table of Contents on white card stock
- Pages 6 – 19: Divider Pages – 1 copy each on white card stock
- Page 20: “Year” lined page – 60 copies on regular copy paper
- Page 21: “Budget” lined page – 5 copies on regular copy paper
- Page 22: “Notes” lined page – 10 copies on regular copy paper
Adobe Acrobat Borderless Printing
- Install the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking HERE. Make sure to uncheck the optional McAfee offers.
- Download The Garden Journal.
- Find the file in your downloads and open. (It will automatically open in Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
- Click the printer icon at the top of the page.
- Click PROPERTIES.
- Under ADDITIONAL FEATURES click Borderless Printing.
- A dropdown menu will appear. Choose card stock.
- Click OK.
- Under Page Size & Handling, choose FIT.
- Under Orientation choose PORTRAIT.
- Your final window should look like the image below. Click PRINT.
The Garden Journal Assembly
I thought for a long time about how to make the garden journal assembly easy and quick. Of course, you can assemble your journal any way you like. That is the beauty of a digital download. There are 14 sections. Each section is marked by a pretty divider page. Between the dividers, are lined pages for your notes and thoughts. If you would like assembly guidance, see the list below.
Five Year Garden Journal
- Cover (There are 2 choices.)
- Table of Contents
- Garden Goals
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Annuals
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Perennials
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Vegetables
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Fruits
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Herbs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Seeds
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Trees & Shrubs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Budget Tracker
- “Budget” lined page – five copies
- Spring Jobs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Summer Jobs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Autumn Jobs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Winter Jobs
- “Year” lined page – five copies
- Notes
- “Notes” lined page – ten copies
- Back Cover
Once assembled, your garden journal can be placed in a 3-ring binder. (The binder spine is included in the PDF.) Another option is to have it spiral-bound at a copy center. I took mine to Staples and had it bound for just over $5.00. They placed a thin plastic cover on the front and back, which will help with wear over a five year time period.
To get your own free digital download of The Garden Journal, simply fill out the form below. The PDF file will be emailed straight to your inbox. **Please note: if you are already an OSP email subscriber, go ahead and fill out the form below. I will send the journal straight to your inbox. My email company makes sure you won’t have duplicate subscriptions.
