pcplantdb

[Stephanie Gerson <sgerson@stanfordalumni.org>]

hello all,

Rich, thanks for responding so quickly.

I agree that Threshold is more academic/research-oriented, which is why I 
feel we should emphasize the relationships-between-plants aspect of our 
project.  Plant databases (like PFAF) already exist, and we have to prove 
that we are collecting and presenting original information, in this case, 
not about plants per say, but about relationships *between* them.  Ya 
dig?

And as for the emails of support - they were wonderful, but we would want 
to present emails requesting information about relationships between 
plants, to show that there is a need for it (like that one Lawrence sent 
us a while back - Lawrence, do you still have it?).

Also, I just found this website http://www.svpal.org/~grantbow/
groupware.html.  Looks interesting, might it be helpful for our purposes?

peace
*Stephanie  

p.s. Does everyone else see those awful black squares in my posts?  What 
are they?  I have faith that one of you can solve the mystery...

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Today's Topics:

   1. some responses... (Stephanie Gerson)
   2. Lindbergh Application (Stephanie Gerson)
   3. Re: Lindbergh Application (Richard Morris)
   4. Plant Communities - The Flowers of Namaqualand (Richard Morris)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 12:23:41 -0700
From: Stephanie Gerson <sgerson@stanfordalumni.org>
Subject: [pcplantdb] some responses...
To: <pcplantdb@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <202iePTXp4800S13.1084735421@uwdvg013.cms.usa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

howdy yalls,

A few comments:

Richard wrote, â??I think the problem for me is that when I talked to Jim 
it really brings up the questions which we have not thrashed through 
ourselves yet. Do we share a tight enough vision of what the project will 
be.â??  However, as with Permaculture, every problem is a solution â?? 
and 
these conversations with Jim turned out to be the perfect impetus to get 
us (er, you guys) considering these critical questions.  When asked what 
next, Richard also wrote, â??Finding out what the key questions we need 
to 
ask ourselves areâ?? â?? looks like Jim certainly helped us out with that 
one!

I Love reading your posts (even though I donâ??t understand a word of 
most 
of it) â?? and feel lucky to be collaborating with you all.

And I agree, if we develop something simple initially and save â??bells 
and 
whistlesâ?? until later, then at least we will have something concrete to 
show if/when we apply for additional funding.  The next funding round for 
the Whole Systems Foundation (very interested in our project, but wanted 
more information) is in the fall â?? and it would be wonderful to have 
something to show them by then.

Someone mentioned that it would be prudent to know what our users want.  
And once we get started, we should definitely send a message to all 
permie-related lists describing the projects and asking about their 
needs.

Chad wrote, â??I'm starting to fuzz out on what the front end would 
actually be anymore.  I would be interested in hearing what you think the 
front end is going to doâ?|â??  Fuzz out on the front end?  (Uh-oh, here 
comes Stephanie with her dream again.)  At the most fundamental level, I 
see the message matching the medium.  So if the message is inter-
relationships between plants (information conducive to designing 
meaningful and beneficial relationships between components of a 
landscape), then the medium must be able to visibly present these inter-
relationships.  To me, it doesnâ??t matter if we use TouchGraph or 
Thinkmap 
(or any GBI for that matter) â?? I would just stress that the user 
interface (front end) allow people to think, learn, and create in terms 
of relationships.  I have always wished there were a web-making authoring 
tool, and that is somewhat how I imagine this becomingâ?|

Someone wrote (sorry, I lost who it was), â??My original thinking is that 
even though it was billed as a half-time job it would actually make more 
sense to work full time until much of the coding bit was done and then 
refine/maintain as authoring began. After the design considerations are 
finalized it seems like not much else can happen until we have some alpha 
level product to start playing with.  In the initial proposal there are 
two people Paula Westmoreland and Robin Williamson listed as subject 
matter experts. It's my opinion that maybe authoring should be postponed 
at this phase of the project until more financing becomes available.  It 
is also my own belief that we will get the best/most content by creating 
a tool that solicits it from the general public and not by trying to do 
it in house.  I think it makes the most sense to focus this initial 
funding on design and development.â??  I completely agree.  Paula and 
Robin?  What do you say?

Finally, I will also be applying for funding from the Lindbergh 
Foundation.  Can all of you please check their website (http://
www.lindberghfoundation.org/) and/or their grant application (http://
www.lindberghfoundation.org/grants/grantapp2005.html) and let me know if 
there is anything specific you have come up with in these past few weeks 
that I should add?  Or, I can simply send out the application once I am 
finished with it, and solicit feedback.  Either way, Iâ??d really 
appreciate your input.

Allright.  Thanks for discussionâ?|

Peace
*Stephanie


+++++++++++++++
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson@stanfordalumni.org
(c) 415.871.5683


____________________________________________________________________
   



------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 19:17:51 -0700
From: Stephanie Gerson <sgerson@stanfordalumni.org>
Subject: [pcplantdb] Lindbergh Application
To: <pcplantdb@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <040ieqcRz0368S10.1084760271@cmsweb10.cms.usa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

hello again,

So I began writing the application for the Lindbergh Foundation today, 
and I have a few questions/requests:

1.  Can all of you interested in being included in the project (meaning 
you are committing to dedicate time, and would be eligible for a small 
stipend - depending on how much funding we get) please respond and 
confirm your participation?  Along with that, please send me your resume/
CV.  And Chad, if you plan on being involved (which I hope you do!), 
please also send me a 1-paragraph bio on yourself (I have bios from 
everyone else).

For those of you that are non-U.S. citizens, please indicate country of 
citizenship, type of visa if U.S., and place of birth. 

2.  The application requests a list of relevant publications for all 
professional personnel.  I will include the websites you have worked on 
(PFAF and Eden) - is there anything else?  If so, please send.

3.  Please tell me the amount of time you plan on spending on the project 
(hours/week).

4.  They request that we, "Provide a summary describing the research that 
is already in place, most recent advances made in your area of work, and 
how your proposed work will contribute. Originality and innovation are 
important factors in the review process. Also provide a listing of 
literature cited."  I've found limited information on relationships 
between plants (besides companion planting) and guild design (which would 
actually support our cause).  Any ideas?  At least on the viability of 
relationship-oriented landscape design?

5.  They request, "A limited amount of material in support of your 
project (articles, letters from collaborators/collaborating institutions, 
photographs, etc.) may be included as part of your application. Eight (8) 
copies are required for our review process. These materials cannot be 
returned."  Anything I should include here?  Perhaps a letter from 
Ibiblio, or a collection of posts to PC listservs requesting 
relationship-type information - to show that this kind of resource is 
needed?  What do you think?

Thank you, I look forward to hearing back.

peace
*Stephanie


+++++++++++++++
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson@stanfordalumni.org
(c) 415.871.5683


____________________________________________________________________
   



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 13:31:24 +0100
From: Richard Morris <webmaster@pfaf.org>
Subject: Re: [pcplantdb] Lindbergh Application
To: pcplantdb@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <40A8B09C.5040702@pfaf.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

Stephanie Gerson wrote:
> hello again,
> 
> So I began writing the application for the Lindbergh Foundation today, 
> and I have a few questions/requests:
> 
This seems a much more academically oriented foundation,
a very different ball game to Threshold.

General feeling is that we should focus the application on the
a community driven plant database (which is what I think
most users will really want).

I think we should down play the guilds, relationships
and smart interfaces. Definitely in there but not the
central focus.

> 1.  Can all of you interested in being included in the project (meaning 
> you are committing to dedicate time, and would be eligible for a small 
> stipend - depending on how much funding we get) please respond and 
> confirm your participation?  Along with that, please send me your 
resume/
> CV.  And Chad, if you plan on being involved (which I hope you do!), 
> please also send me a 1-paragraph bio on yourself (I have bios from 
> everyone else).
> 
CV at http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/cv.html

> For those of you that are non-U.S. citizens, please indicate country of 
> citizenship, type of visa if U.S., and place of birth. 
> 
United Kingdom

> 2.  The application requests a list of relevant publications for all 
> professional personnel.  I will include the websites you have worked on 
> (PFAF and Eden) - is there anything else?  If so, please send.
> 
One paper in a conference proceedings

A.K. Chhabra, R.S. Banga  M.S. Punia, K. Fern and R.J. Morris (2002). 
World Wide Web as an Aid to Search and Explore New Plants of Global 
Importance. In Symposium Proceedings, Perspectives in Medicinal & 
Aromatic Plants: Research & Development, pp 73-80,  March 7-9, 2002, 
Department of Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 
125 004, India.

The Plants For A Future book might also be worth referencing

Plants For A Future, Ken Fern, Permenent Publications, Clanfield, 
Hampshire, 1997.


Snipped from another grant app we are putting together:

Plants For A Future has achieved an international reputation through the 
compilation of a database of 7400 plants which provides details of the 
edible, medicinal and other uses of the plants; the publication of a 
book which has become a minor classic and is now in its second reprint; 
and the production of a website containing a full online version of the 
plant database which has been referred to by over 500 other websites[1]. 
The database has been incorporated into the America Associations for the 
Advancements of Science?s Traditional Ecological Knowledge Prior Art 
Database [2].
        
[1] Google links to website - 
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=
link%3Awww.comp.leeds.ac.uk%2Fpfaf%2F&btnG=Search

[2] AAAS TekPad Partners 
http://ip.aaas.org/tekindex.nsf/Partners?OpenPage&AutoFramed.

Also links to the various sites Laurence has worked on at ibiblio.

> 3.  Please tell me the amount of time you plan on spending on the 
project 
> (hours/week).
> 
Hard to say, I guess about a day a week.

> 4.  They request that we, "Provide a summary describing the research 
that 
> is already in place, most recent advances made in your area of work, 
and 
> how your proposed work will contribute. Originality and innovation are 
> important factors in the review process. Also provide a listing of 
> literature cited."  I've found limited information on relationships 
> between plants (besides companion planting) and guild design (which 
would 
> actually support our cause).  Any ideas?  At least on the viability of 
> relationship-oriented landscape design?
> 
Toby Hemingways book (must get a copy) seems to be best
one about guilds.

There is a very large list of litrature cited in the existing
database:
http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/biblio_p.html
It might be an idea to include that in an appendix.

Might be worth a reference to wikipedia, and other community
driven sites.

> 5.  They request, "A limited amount of material in support of your 
> project (articles, letters from collaborators/collaborating 
institutions, 
> photographs, etc.) may be included as part of your application. Eight 
(8) 
> copies are required for our review process. These materials cannot be 
> returned."  Anything I should include here?  Perhaps a letter from 
> Ibiblio, or a collection of posts to PC listservs requesting 
> relationship-type information - to show that this kind of resource is 
> needed?  What do you think?
> 
I've sent a couple of emails to academic colegues. We may
get a good letter of support from them.

> Thank you, I look forward to hearing back.
> 

A few emails of support:

 >>>>>>
  Wanted to thank you for your most incredible (and edible) database.  I 
have been searching for much of this info.  Finding bits and pieces. 
And now your excellent repository.  A generous gift to the earth.  Thank 
you.

Mike Larsen
Minneapolis
 >>>>>>>
  Sir,

I am simply astonished at the wealth of valuable and practical 
information I continue to find on and through the PFAF site.  Speaking 
as someone who is working through the particulars of self- treatment for 
a degenerative nerve disease, (this after having run the full gamut of 
helpful/harmful treatment the AMA has proffered) the exacting nature of 
the information provided by your site and by many of those sites listed 
in your links has given me a great deal of new hope and the confidence I 
need to proceed on my quest knowing that I have been very well informed.
The nature of the World Wide Web is at once both wonderful and 
frighteningly impersonal, however, I have personally chosen to move IT a 
little closer to the former by as many personal notes of well deserved 
thanks as I am able to produce.
Thus, THANK-YOU ! For all that you do and all that you have provided to 
me and my family, a well-earned thank-you is certainly due.

Sincerely,

Terry Buchacher
Belgrade, Montana, USA
 >>>>>>>>>
I just found your website for the first time and wanted to say thankyou. 
I have been interested in so many of the uses that you cover for so long 
and have had to scrabble around for any information that I can find. The 
hard work that you have already done will make things alot easier for me 
in the future.

Regards,

Rebecca Smith.
 >>>>>>>>>>
thank you for such a wondeful website! I needed information about 
medicinal plants for biology class and your website was more than 
helpful: I actually learned interesting facts about plants! Your webiste 
is clean and to the point, like most informative sites should be. I'll 
definetly be back to your site for more info.
THANKS AGAIN!
Amanda Cronin
 >>>>>>>>>>>
Hey,
I just found your site, especially your database, wonderful! I knew there
had to be an online permacultural compendium of plants, but 7,000 entries
and not "avocado"! I guess they don't grow in the UK. Very good work 
though.

Bear K
 >>>>>>>>>>>
    From: mIEKAL aND
Subject: Does Plants for a Future have 1000 friends?

(FOLKS, IM SPREADING THIS TO ALL MY LISTS, THESE GUYS PRODUCE, IN MY
MIND THE MOST IMPORTANT PLANT DATABASE ON THE WEB...  IT IS DREADFULLY
UNDERFUNDED & TOP NOTCH WORK.  PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING THEM OUT, or in
the very least, bookmark their site & make use of the extensive
information.   mIEKAL)
 >>>>>>>>>>>>
Keep up the great work.

Your web site was one of the best ones that I found. I had been surfing 
for
about 3 days.  Your site was most useful.  I have linked your site to 
hard
copy flyer of a list of web sites to be visted in regards to 
permaculture.

Best of Luck
Czzxzq@******
 >>>>>>>>>>>
  Wasabi is a state secret of Japan, for those of us with a less than 
firm grip on latin and scientific taxonomy your website has provided the 
only useful information and referances that I have been able to find in 
4 hours of searching.

Thank You.
Chuck Trout
 >>>>>>>>>>>
Dear Rich,

My name is Andrea Cordone, I live in Córdoba, Argentina.

I write you to say you that your web site is excellent, and results me 
from
much usefulness in my work -I´m permaculturist and technical in 
floriculture.

The information that there is in español  is very few and, though we 
lived in
different hemispheres,  the information that you have put at the disposal 
of
all the people  is so complete that serves me to draw conclusions and to 
learn
  about the election of plants.

Thank you very much by your generosity,

Andrea Cordone

PS sorry for my English (I speak as Tarzan).
 >>>>>>>>>>>
  My daughter in the sixth grade is doing a report on the Sweet Violet. I
found your website. Thank you so much for all the information, we were 
not
able to find this information at the library or any other website. Thank 
you
so much for the help!
                                     Sandra McGee
                                     Mississippi
                                     USA
 >>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks for your wonderful website. I found it looking for information 
about
whether my new bay tree needs a sunny or shady spot.
I'm a new but very enthusiastic future-aware London gardener and I'm very
excited to have found this great source of advice and information.
Frankie
 >>>>>>>>>>>>
hi,
i just want to tell all of you affiliated with PFAF that i absolutely 
love what you are doing.  i find your page to be the most valuable page 
anywhere on the net.  i'm a college student with an interest in finding 
practical uses for both wild plants and garden plant alike.  i continue 
to be amazed with the completeness of the PFAF database every time i use 
it--probably about once a week.  you have so much info that i simply 
cannot find anywhere else.  i plan on having a permaculture home/village 
sometime and owe most of my knowledge to PFAF.  thank you so much and 
keep up the good work.   ben.
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>

--
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
PFAF electronic mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pfaf





------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 14:14:04 +0100
From: Richard Morris <webmaster@pfaf.org>
Subject: [pcplantdb] Plant Communities - The Flowers of Namaqualand
To: pcplantdb <pcplantdb@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <40A8BA9C.8000903@pfaf.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

I just stumbled across an interesting website
The Flowers of Namaqualand

http://home.mweb.co.za/zs/zs6phd/Nama_5.htm
http://home.mweb.co.za/zs/zs6phd/Nama_6.htm

which goes into detail about a particular environment
and the flora which grows there.

Whilst not specifically a guild it does describe a plant
community, and there is good reason to link the
plants there together in some way.

Just a though on what could be done.

        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
PFAF electronic mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pfaf





------------------------------

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End of pcplantdb Digest, Vol 12, Issue 8
****************************************




+++++++++++++++
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson@stanfordalumni.org
(c) 415.871.5683


____________________________________________________________________