Organizing plant information for easy retrieval

[Martha StanleyStudent]

It’s in my nature to organize things in like clumps. All the sox go there, the books on herbs go there…..

And I do hate having a question hanging out there, unanswered.

Well, now there are a zillion plants buzzing in my brain and I keep asking the same questions. So it’s time to organize them.

I want to be able to open the spreadsheet or app or whatever, and find ….

The name of the plant with binomial, which part is the medicine, the actions,active ingredients, growing culture, specific uses, and how it’s best applied, and a space for “other”. Do I need to add another category?

Question 1: is there already a system, app, software, etc that is available? That anyone uses?

2. Any suggestion to make my detail oriented self happy?

3. Do I have to invent this? :wall:

I’m hardly OCD but I really do like to be able to locate info with the fewest number of steps. It’s my lazy self coming forward.

Martha

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I really don’t like spreadsheets for herbs. The spreadsheet format sterilizes the information too much and lends itself to teaching us lists of actions instead modes of actions of plants. A spreadsheet also tends to make all actions equivalent. So the really great anti-spasmodics will show up with equal value on your search as the lousy ones. Plus, most plants do 20 different things and it just gets obnoxious customizing all the fields.

Here’s my advice…

You’ll learn much better and understand the plants much better (which is the point right ? 🙂 )by making a separate document for each plant. Then you’ll get the whole picture of the critter instead of chopping it up and sub-categorizing in your mind. Over the years that document will become better and better as you learn new things and have more experiences. Reviewing, revising and organizing the info in the document over the years will improve your understanding of that plant in amazing ways throughout your life.

That document will probably end up looking a lot like the plant monographs I’m writing for the school. You could use that basic format as a foundation and add your own notes as you learn more.

I have a program/App called Evernote that I like. I just make a note for each herb and when I learn something interesting about it, I put it in the note. The whole database is searchable. It runs on all my devices and syncs automatically. So, if I’m trying to remember what herb I read about that was good for MRSA, I just do a search for MRSA and it will pull them all up. Then I can read in context what I actually know about the herb and MRSA instead of just having the name of a plant with the term MRSA attached to it because both of those fields on a spreadsheet were checked.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Kirstie Morphy

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

Man oh man, you nailed everything about why I didn’t want to do a spreadsheet system. :scared:

I like the Evernote idea with separate docs since it has a search feature.

I have Evernote already but I haven’t really needed it. I’ll go mess with it.

Great idea. :clap:

I can tell you’re a pretty techy guy so I’m not surprised you have such a system.

I can work with this idea.

Thanks a LOT! :notworthy:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Any time Martha.

Spreadsheets are great for calculations or for managing information about inventory or customers or sales etc…

They’re lousy for organizing deep information or complex ideas that evolve and grow. For that, you want something like Evernote. 🙂

So, if you want to track what herbs you have or how much you use in a year, or when to order more, or what your sales were for a certain size tincture,…use a spreadsheet.

If you want to record the idea that plantain is a mild vulnerary and that it’s weaker action, combined with its great drawing properties, makes it wonderful for healing puncture wounds (which comfrey would heal too quickly and lead to an abscess) a spreadsheet will be aggravating and fairly useless.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Doc Jones wrote: If you want to record the idea that plantain is a mild vulnerary and that it’s weaker action, combined with its great drawing properties, makes it wonderful for healing puncture wounds (which comfrey would heal too quickly and lead to an abscess) a spreadsheet will be aggravating and fairly useless.

Doc

Sounds like a CHALLENGE to me!!!! :flapper:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote:

If you want to record the idea that plantain is a mild vulnerary and that it’s weaker action, combined with its great drawing properties, makes it wonderful for healing puncture wounds (which comfrey would heal too quickly and lead to an abscess) a spreadsheet will be aggravating and fairly useless.

Doc

Sounds like a CHALLENGE to me!!!! :flapper:

For those who don’t know, Steven gets really excited about spreadsheets. :blob:

The one he’s created to track the herb supplement sector of HomeGrown Herbalist is amazing.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

I’ve set up the Evernote notebook. I like how it’s gonna help me organize things.

But- there are still gonna be a few spreadsheets in my life too. :big grin:

Martha

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

Piggybacking off the idea of searching for terms in Evernote…..

I tried the search option in the forum. I chose the term comfrey. The result was that comfrey was too common a word. Try again.

Huh?

So I tried tincture. Same response.

Tried the advance search with the search term +comfrey. Same result. :wall:

May I assume I’m not doing it right?

Martha

[IdahoHerbalist]

I am sorry. I don’t know how to overcome the limitations of the software. :crying:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

The search function of this forum (and most other forums) is El Stinko.

To do a search, type this into your browser instead: Site:herb-talk.com Comfrey

It’ll work for any webstie or topic ie…

Site:youtube.com cat videos

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

When did you get so smart? 🙂

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: When did you get so smart? 🙂

I banged my head really good on a cupboard door the other day. I’ve been quite clever ever since. 😛

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

Doc, I KNEW you were a techy dude. :clap:

Thanks.

Martha

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Marthabees wrote: Doc, I KNEW you were a techy dude. :clap:

Thanks.

Martha

You bet Martha. Have fun.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Marthabees wrote: Doc, I KNEW you were a techy dude. :clap:

Thanks.

Martha

BUT!!! Can he do a SPREAD SHEET!!!! 😛

[AnnettStudent]

Thanks Marthabees for asking the question I also had.

Thanks Doc for the helpful info to organize better. My paper files just aren’t what I wanted. This has given me new hope:)

[KelleyStudent]

I have an app on my iPad called PDF viewer. In it I have created folders within folders, i.e., Herbal Medicine, then Materia Medica, then a separate folder for each individual herb. I surf the web a LOT looking for interesting info on individual herbs. When I find something I like, I use the “Import to PDF Viewer” feature on the iPad. This way I don’t have to organize immediately, just throw all that interesting stuff into it’s own folder. Then when I have time I can use the ipencil to highlight the information I consider important, and can even jot notes with it in the sidebars. I have monographs for each herb that I have borrowed off the web, so it is very helpful. It really helps my disorganized artist’s brain keep it all in one place. The downside is I can’t store an editable document that I work on in the app. If I want it there, I have to create it elsewhere and download it and throw out the old version. (I think. Since I didn’t read the directions to the app there may be a way, lol!)

Also I have a folder under Herbal Medicine which has our school lessons in it, which is helpful.

I also am able to do a similar thing on my mac computer without the PDF app. I just go to File in Safari, then scroll down to Export as PDF, Then I make my own folders in the same manner and store it on my desktop.

I’ve been meaning to learn evernote as Doc mentioned. Sounds very useful. I’ve had it forever but never really learned how to use it. (Do we detect a pattern here?)

Also, I do think having a handwritten monograph is extremely helpful and really fun. I just tend to put that off for a rainy day, and since I put a lot of work into the monographs, I tend to procrastinate on it. But when I do finish a new one, it makes me very, very happy.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

I have been enjoying the ease of Evernote. I have been using it as a collecting place for plant facts, pix, links, etc.

The search function – suggested by Doc – keeps me from being totally anal and perfectionistic about putting things in just the “right” order.

I can dump stuff there and find it later. Easy peasy.

The only downside is if I do a screen save and then put that in a file, the search function won’t work in that particular text, but that’s just the way pdfs and pngs/jpgs work. Or in this case, don’t work.

When I’m ready to get a file all neat and perfect, the info will be there waiting for me. In the meantime, it’s all in an organized pile.

And now my question:

I see the word “monograph” bandied about. I know what it is and I have looked it up.

I want to know how it is used and what it means to an herbalist since it’s a jargon word.

So – what does it take to make/have a “plant monograph?” What elements make up a plant monograph?

Thanks, y’all.

Martha

(who smells a little of plantain and comfrey right now since she’s been harvesting and drying it today)

[IdahoHerbalist]

Get OCR and you can convert PDF’s and PNG’s and JPG’s into text. I use FreeOCR. I have digitized most of Michael Moore’s Mountain Herb book using that program.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

Great tip, Steve. Thanks.

Will investigate. :clap:

Now… to the original question: what’s a plant monograph?

Martha

Who found a new-to-her plantain today! P Virginia, I’m pretty sure. It was fuzzy and the leaves felt a little thicker.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Marthabees wrote: Great tip, Steve. Thanks.

Will investigate. :clap:

Now… to the original question: what’s a plant monograph?

Martha

Who found a new-to-her plantain today! P Virginia, I’m pretty sure. It was fuzzy and the leaves felt a little thicker.

mon·o·graph

ˈmänəˌɡraf/

noun

1.

a detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it.

The plant monographs are the modules that are just on one, specific herb. :0)

By the way, plantain around here isn’t fuzzy. Better make sure what you have.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

I suspect that it doesn’t show up out west, but I’m thinking this is widespread in the east.

Example:

And

I uploaded a photo I took to the Facebook page.

Whaddaya think?

Martha

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Marthabees wrote: I suspect that it doesn’t show up out west, but I’m thinking this is widespread in the east.

Example:

And

I uploaded a photo I took to the Facebook page.

Whaddaya think?

Martha

My guess is if it’s Plantago it’s similar medicinally to its cousins but I’ve never used it. Personally I’d stick with P. major or P. lancineolata unless I was in a pinch for an emergency.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Martha StanleyStudentTopic Author]

I have been using Evernote on both iPads, a computer and maybe my iphone, if I can squeeze some more memory in.

It has been very helpful.

As Doc said, I can search easily. :blob:

I like how I can choose to have the info available offline.

I’m also loving how I can capture something on the web and plop it easily into a file, completely bypassing paper.

I need to figure out a way to back it up on the cloud…. beyond the Evernote site itself…..my next project.

I would croak if all this stuff went up in smoke. Or an EMP event.

Just thinking…. Will I have to print it?! Eek.

Thanks again,

Martha

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Glad you’re liking it.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Michelle KochStudent]

Hey Martha, I read your post about needing peer interaction/discussion to help you complete the “learning loop,” and I totally get what you mean! But. .. You CAN still have that “classroom experience” here– afterall, aren’t there a whole bunch of us in this course? I know everyone looks to Patrick and Steven to answer all the questions, but the rest of us should be joining in to help each other too. At the school site, there is a discussions page with some ongoing peer to peer mentoring going on too. I think if everyone were to put on a bit of self confidence and our thinking caps, we could all get maximum benefit from the course. What do you think? :yahoo:

[Author]

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