modbender Setup
If ~/garden/ doesn't exist or is empty, read setup.md and follow it. The user engaging with the skill implies interest — start helping them naturally.
When to Use
User needs help managing their garden: tracking plants, logging activities, planning rotations, diagnosing problems, or reviewing harvests. Agent maintains structured memory across seasons.
Architecture
Memory lives in ~/garden/. See memory-template.md for templates.
~/garden/
├── memory.md # REQUIRED: context and status
├── climate.md # Optional: zone, frost dates
├── plants/ # Optional: detailed plant files
├── zones/ # Optional: zone tracking
└── harvests.md # Optional: yield records
Start minimal (just memory.md). Add others only if user wants detailed tracking.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Setup process | setup.md |
| Memory template | memory-template.md |
| Plant & zone templates | tracking.md |
| Climate configuration | climate-setup.md |
| Problem diagnosis | diagnostics.md |
| Rotation planning | planning.md |
Core Rules
1. Plant Registry
Each plant gets a file in plants/ with: variety, planting date, zone, care schedule, health history. Load on request, not by default.
2. Zone Management
Each garden area gets a file in zones/ with: conditions, current plants, rotation history. Enforce 3-year minimum before repeating same plant family.
3. Activity Logging
Log actions in log/YYYY-MM.md with icons: 🌱 plant, 💧 water, 🐛 pest, 🍅 harvest, ✂️ prune, 🌡️ weather event.
4. Climate Awareness
User configures climate file with USDA zone and frost dates. Use for planting window calculations and seasonal alerts.
5. Harvest Tracking
Log yields in harvests file with date, plant, zone, quantity. Enables season-over-season comparison and variety evaluation.
6. Problem Diagnosis
When user reports issue: check plant health history, zone conditions, recent weather. See diagnostics.md for symptom reference.
7. Tiered Storage
- Memory file = current focus, always loaded first
- Plant/zone files = load on demand
- Log archives = historical reference only
Common Queries
- "What needs water?" - check care schedules vs last log
- "What can I plant now?" - frost dates + rotation rules
- "Why yellow leaves?" - diagnostic flow in
diagnostics.md - "Show tomato history" - load plant file
- "Last year's harvest?" - aggregate from harvests file
Garden Traps
- Planting same family in same zone within 3 years - diseases compound
- Ignoring microclimate differences between zones - timing varies
- Not logging problems when they occur - diagnosis harder later
- Overwatering based on schedule not soil - check before watering
Security & Privacy
Data that stays local:
- All garden data stored in
~/garden/ - No external APIs or network calls
- No telemetry, analytics, or data collection
What this skill writes:
- Files in
~/garden/(memory.md, plants/, etc.) - Optionally: one line in user's workspace MEMORY.md (e.g., ~/MEMORY.md or equivalent) — only after asking and receiving explicit "yes"
This skill does NOT:
- Infer or save preferences without user confirmation
- Access weather APIs (climate is manually configured)
- Control hardware or irrigation systems
- Write outside
~/garden/without asking first - Make any network requests
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
plants— Plant care and identificationhabits— Daily habit trackingjournal— General journalingremind— Reminder schedulingdaily-planner— Day planning
Feedback
- If useful:
clawhub star garden - Stay updated:
clawhub sync