Keep a seasonal table notebook
Editorial illustration; not a photograph of recipe testing.
Seasonal cooking can begin with observation. A notebook of what you find locally is more personal than a calendar that assumes every region has the same growing conditions.
Record what you see
At a market or shop, note an ingredient, its place of origin if listed, its price and the date. Ask the seller how they like to prepare it. Keep their suggestion separate from claims you have independently checked.
Collect the story as well as the dish
If a friend or relative shares a recipe, ask what it is called, when they make it and who taught them. With their permission, record their words. A family version can differ from the dish served in another village or household.
Cook one thing, then reflect
Choose one ingredient and a preparation you can manage. After the meal, write what you liked, what you changed and what you would try next. You do not need to claim that your version is definitive or traditional.
A reusable entry
Date · place · ingredient · source of the idea · preparation · people at the table · notes for next time.