To: "pfaf@yahoogroups.com" <pfaf@yahoogroups.com>, PC USA <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, PCUK <permaculture.uk@ntlworld.com>
Cc:
Subject: [permaculture] An open souce plant database
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 18:44:59 +0100
Hi folks,
Theres been some interesting discussion on the
pcplantdb (permaculture plant database) mailing list reciently.
The aim of the project is to try and create a more colabrative
database which allow other peoples input and possibly with
a broader scope that the pfaf one. Introducing info on plant guilds
seem to be an important aspect of the project.
Anyway some good questions were posted:
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.
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?
3. What are current plant/guild databases lacking, that we would aspire
to include in a 'next level' project?
4. only AFTER answering the first 3, brainstorm tech formats/platforms
that could acheive this end and how.
I'd also like to add a couple of my own:
5. Format: web based or cd-rom?
6. Economics / licencing: should it be free as in beer, free as in
speach, should it be done just by volunatary effort or via funding
for developers or by some sort of fee from the users?
If anyone out there has views on these subjects then it would be great
if you could respond to the pcplantdb mailing list:
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