Hi;
I've tried to kickstart some interest in the website lately.
I've been told that it is boring. In response, I've pointed
out the geoindex feature available on http://lofo.uregina.ca
where one can see a map of Saskatchewan with the locations
of all producers and interested consumers (for any particular
food item). I've used honey as an example, because presently
there are 2 producers and 3 potential consumers. I've contacted
each of these, trying to let them know about this feature on the
website.
I've also been trying to expand the numbers of people
on the website. To this end and using honey as an example,
I've contacted the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association with the
idea that some of their members might find the site useful and
also as a possible way to create on the site some information
for consumers to educate the public about honey that is produced
in Saskatchewan. Some ideas for the website include creating
separate areas for each local product (i.e. Honey) where there
could be information (developed by producers and consumers)
about honey production locally, regulations, etc. and possibly
a discussion forum. This could be part of an (online) document
that covers the range of locally produced foods, the rationale
for a preference for local foods, and the bases for comparison
between local and imported products. I think it might also be
valuable to encourage everyone on the site (producer or consumer)
to create a page associate with or expanding their "user profile".
For producers, such a page could feature a picture and some standard
information -- a pointer to their own website, contact information,
etc.
What occurred to me just now is the idea of how we might increase
the profile of the site by doing a bit of work to include the
graphics
and HTML code for people to put a "button" on their own site that
links to http://lofo.uregina.ca - something that says "I choose
local"
or ... I don't know (we could have a variety of slogans).
Things have been quiet on the website, but I don't want this
effort to lose too much steam. I ask everyone out there to
tell people about the site and encourage them to register and
check it out. I am the first to realize that it is VERY MUCH
a work in progress. Please also think about what you'd like to
see, what you'd like to contribute (pictures, trivia, etc.), and
anything else.
I hope to have some postcards for some upcoming events in Regina
and Saskatoon that publicize the website.
If you would like to find local food or you would like to sell
your local food, please sign up on the website. If that's too
difficult, please post a note here saying where the problems are.
Ask people you know to sign up -- and if they have problems or they
are reluctant, try to discover the issues. Maybe the issues are
well known (to others, not necessarily to me).
I think that the web-based version is going to be the best bet
starting out -- perhaps some print versions can follow. Your
help is needed to get this site going (and approaching full speed).
Any comments are helpful.
All the best,
Daryl
--
Daryl H. Hepting, Ph.D.
Associate Professor * Computer Science Department * CW 308.22
University of Regina * Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
dhh@cs.uregina.ca * http://www.cs.uregina.ca/~hepting
tel: (306) 585-5210 * fax: (306) 585-4745 * cell: (306) 596-6312
----
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