pcplantdb

[Richard Morris <webmaster@pfaf.org>]

Folks,

For some reason I didn't get the original wowww post sent to me
in the digest.

> 1.  What would be want the ultimate plant/guild database to be able to 
> acheive?  brainstorm *goals*, forget tech format for now.  get specific 
> (i.e. I want to be able to insert x,y,z criteria and design a medicinal 
> guild for my local region...)  Also specify fee (free or paid), format 
> (web or cd rom)-- how this tool is accessed.

From my experience there are a lot of different types of people
who use the pfaf database, some I can mention:-
        school children - want to know why plants are green etc.
        farmers looking for new crops - I just had a guy asking
                about the econimics of growing ginko, I'd love to
                have more info about the economics of growing
                different plants. Yields! Costs, Labour input.
        herbalists looking for info on the health giving nature of
                plants
        craftsmen - want to get info on different uses of the plants,
                whats a good wood for coppicing?
        ecologists, botanists, historians - want to know about
                the history/folklaw/ethnobottany of the plant,
                how it works in an ecosystem (a bit like guilds)
        gardeners - these have very different needs to farmers above
                economics less important but visual aspects more              
  
                important.
        bioinfomaticians - this is a big growing field, storing info
                on biolgical subjects. Princapally gene sequencing,
                but (blows own trumpet) I've been invited to give a
                talk on the pfaf db at a bioinformatics winter school,
                so theres quite a bit of academic interest in this.
        permaculture people -

> 2.  What characteristics of current plant/guild databases can serve as a 
> model- features we admire, and would we want to include in a 'next level' 
> project?

There is a LOT of good info out there. Our google rank is going down
just because there is so much else on the web. I've very interested
in integrating with other existing datasets which already have the info.
> 3.  What are current plant/guild databases lacking, that we would aspire 
> to include in a 'next level' project?

Principle things I think are missing from pfaf db:
        1) Pictures - the most common question we get asked.
        2) Identification info.
        3) A short description of the plant giving key features.
        4) Regional infomation. all our info is UK based.
        5) Yeilds, and all the other information a commercial grower
                would require.
        6) Suppliers: where to get the plants/seeds, where to get the
                end products
        7) History/folklaw/common names in other regions
        8) Visuals, its a very text oriented thing.

> 4.  only AFTER answering the first 3, brainstorm tech formats/platforms 
> that could acheive this end and how.

Darn, thats my favorite bit!

My own Q's

5. Website or CD-ROM.

Both ideally. Web is better for colabrative bit, but now always
suitable for people in the field, people who can't afford the connection
or less developed countries.

6. Commercial/legal side.

I reciently saw the the Free Software Foundations page about
Selling Free Software http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

>>>
Many people believe that the spirit of the GNU project is that you 
should not charge money for distributing copies of software, or that you 
should charge as little as possible -- just enough to cover the cost.

Actually we encourage people who redistribute free software to charge as 
much as they wish or can. If this seems surprising to you, please read on.

The word ``free'' has two legitimate general meanings; it can refer 
either to freedom or to price. When we speak of ``free software'', we're 
talking about freedom, not price. (Think of ``free speech'', not ``free 
beer''.) Specifically, it means that a user is free to run the program, 
change the program, and redistribute the program with or without changes.

Free programs are sometimes distributed gratis, and sometimes for a 
substantial price. Often the same program is available in both ways from 
different places. The program is free regardless of the price, because 
users have freedom in using it.

Non-free programs are usually sold for a high price, but sometimes a 
store will give you a copy at no charge. That doesn't make it free 
software, though. Price or no price, the program is non-free because 
users don't have freedom.

Since free software is not a matter of price, a low price isn't more 
free, or closer to free. So if you are redistributing copies of free 
software, you might as well charge a substantial fee and make some 
money. Redistributing free software is a good and legitimate activity; 
if you do it, you might as well make a profit from it.

Free software is a community project, and everyone who depends on it 
ought to look for ways to contribute to building the community. For a 
distributor, the way to do this is to give a part of the profit to the 
Free Software Foundation or some other free software development 
project. By funding development, you can advance the world of free 
software.
>>>

        Rich
--
Plants for a Future: 7000 useful plants
Web:   http://www.pfaf.org/ same as http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Post:  1 Lerryn View, Lerryn, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0QJ
Tel:     01208 872 963 / 0845 458 4719  
Email: webmaster@pfaf.org
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