Commonplace

Commonplace Example Deck: Bonsai Tracker

Overview

In this tutorial. we'll walk you through creating your first Commonplace Deck, so you can learn how the Commonplace system and user interface works.

What does it do?

The Bonsai Tracker is a simple but powerful tool for managing your bonsai tree collection. With this Commonplace system, you can:

  • Create individual cards for each bonsai tree in your collection
  • Store essential information like species, age, and styling details
  • Track maintenance history including watering, fertilizing, and repotting
  • Upload and store photos to document your tree's development over time
  • Set reminders for upcoming care tasks
  • Record styling decisions and future plans for each tree
  • Organize trees by species, size, or display location
  • Share individual tree cards or your entire collection with other enthusiasts

This system demonstrates how Commonplace can be used to track physical objects and their maintenance over time, with a combination of structured data, images, and planning capabilities.

Building the Collection

Creating a Tree card.

  • Create a new Collection to start off the project.
    • name the Collection "Bonsai Tracker"
  • Create a new empty Card
  • Click the "+" icon and select a Text field from the dropdown
  • Edit the field name to be "Common Name"
  • Put in example value, like "Japanese Maple"

Key Data Points to Track

For our bonsai tree card, we'll be tracking these important data points. For each data point below:

  1. Click the "+" icon to add a new field
  2. Select the appropriate field type from the dropdown (Text, Number, Date, etc.)
  3. Edit the field name to match the data point (e.g., "Age", "Style")
  4. Enter a realistic example value for each field

For example, to add the Age field:

  • Click "+" and select "Number" field type
  • Name the field "Age"
  • Enter an example value like "5"
  1. Age - How old the tree is (in years)
  2. Style - The bonsai style (formal upright, slanting, cascade, etc.)
  3. Pot Type - The type and size of pot being used
  4. Last Repotting Date - When the tree was last repotted
  5. Watering Schedule - How often the tree needs watering

Reuben's idea