Mobile App: Seed Collecting in the Field

You can add accessions to your seed bank by using the mobile app to record seed collections.

Once uploaded into Terraware, these seed collections will appear in the web app as Accessions. The accessions will have a default status of “Awaiting Check-in”.

Screenshot shows the seed collection form in the mobile app.

1. Getting Started: 
   1. Open the Terraware mobile app on your smartphone. 
   2. The first time you log in to the Terraware mobile app you will need to have access to data or Wi-Fi on your phone. 
   3. Log in to your Terraware account (the same email and password as you do for the web app). 
      • Note that once you are logged in you do not need to have cell service / Wi-Fi until you are ready to drop off your seed collection
2. Select your organization: This step is critical to perform if you are a member of multiple organizations within Terraware. If you are only a member of one you can disregard. To select your organization:
   1. Click on the icon on the right hand top corner.
   2. This will show a sidebar listing all of the organizations you are a part of appear.
   3. Select the organization you are collecting for.
3. Create a new collection:
   1. To start seed collecting tap the “+New Collection” button  at the bottom of your screen. 
   2. The first section you see when you create a new collection is “Trip Information”. All collections that are made on the same day will use this same trip information so you don’t have to re-input the information! You can always modify the trip information by clicking on the triangle to the right of “Trip Data” to expand the fields. This section includes:
      • Collection Date: the date on which you collected the seeds.
      • Collection Site Name: This is the name of the collection site. It is user defined, so you can call whatever you like.
      • Collectors: the names of the people who are performing the seed collection. (Note: The list of Collectors includes the names that were provided for the Collector field in all of the currently existing Collection/Accession records.)
   3. The second section you see will be the seed data. This is where you can input details about the seeds you are collecting. While none of the fields are mandatory we recommend that, at minimum, you include the species of plant, GPS coordinates, and a photo.
      • Species: The species that you see are the same species in the species list of the organization you are currently working in. Note that we do not allow you to add new species in the mobile app currently so make sure your species list is up to date before you go collecting!
      • Plant Source Type: This refers to the type of plant you are collecting from. 
        1. Wild (in situ) - this is a plant that is found in the wild and was not planted by humans.
        2. Reintroduced - this is a plant that was reintroduced to the wild by humans.
        3. Cultivated (ex situ) - this refers to a plant that was planted and maintained by humans.
        4. Other - another type of plant.
      • Plant ID (if applicable): Plant IDs are used in some areas to keep track of rare trees. Most plants won’t have this, but if yours does this is the place to note it!
      • Estimated Number of Plants Collected From: This is the estimated number of plants you are collecting from.
      • Bag IDs: Some groups use written bag IDs to keep track of their collections on the bags themselves. If you are using them, this is the place to note which bad IDs you are using.
      • Latitude, Longitude: We take a GPS point automatically when you add a new collection, so this should be pre-populated each time. You can always add more GPS points if needed or edit them. 
      • Photos: You can either take a picture or upload an existing one. Note: Up to 10 photo files can be added.
      • Plant Notes: Add any notes about the collection.
   4. Once you save a collection, you will see it displayed under the collection date in the main screen. 
4. Drop off Seeds: The last step to complete a collection is to drop off your seeds. Do this when you are done collecting seeds and are ready to physically drop them off at a seed bank. 
   1. Tap “Drop Off Seeds”. 
      • Note that you will need to have data/Wi-FI connection to do this! Select the seed bank you want to drop off your seeds at. 
   2. Click “Upload”. This will upload your seed collection to your seed accessions page on terraware.io! 
      • Note that once you upload, you will no longer be able to see your seed collection in the mobile app.