Open Allotment Data
flygirltwo
I am currently working on a project for the Open Knowledge Foundation
around open allotment data and for the moment focusing on Manchester
(Trafford and Tameside initially, before tackling the rest). More on
the project here: http://allotmentfinder.org/
Please feel free to add ideas here: http://ideas.okfn.org/ideas/119/allotment-finder
I am have started blogging about why I think this would be a great
idea here (still writing content for the site I'm afraid, so still in
development mode): http://faridavis.dev.ecobee.org/content/allotment-finder-green-fingered-data-journalism-part-i
Although I have been following these interesting open data
developments in Manchester from the margins (of academia) for some
time now, I am really excited about the Allotment Finder project and
because I am Manchester based, would really like to get to more
familiar with the local open data scene.
In terms of the allotment data, any and all help and suggestions
welcome. Natch. I am currently in the process of writing up where I
have gotten to so far. Trafford Council is dead keen and so I aim to
have a first data set for them shortly.
I hope to meet some of you on the 31st.
V best, Farida
julianlstar
This sounds like an excellent project. Who you have been dealing with
at Trafford Council?
Cheers
Julian
flygirltwo
Thanks for this. I have been dealing with Janet Long, the Allotment
Officer (and informally through personal connections with Petula
Neilson, who is Janet's boss). Janet has been very helpful and I am
the process of putting together a leaflet for her meeting with all the
allotment secretaries this week (sadly I can't make it). In the end I
think I will put together a short survey to obtain the data, but in
the first instance I want to make sure the project is clear to the
people who have the missing bits of data!
So far I have quite a bit of data already, I just need to put it all
in a spreadsheet (or Google Refine) and see what's missing. That will
also be a useful template for then dealing with the other councils and
rolling it out across Greater Manchester.
Thanks for your interest in the project. I hope to do some more work
on it in the next few days and then hopefully have a few more things
to say about it if people are interested in it at meeting on the 31st.
For me it would just be really great to meet some of you. Am meeting
with Sam Smith (@smithsam) this week and all being well will also go
to OKCON2011 so that should hopefully give me tons of inspiration!
Look forward to meeting you soon.
V best, Farida
Julian Tait
Sounds like you have come a long way this already. I have highlighted what you are doing, to colleagues at Trafford, Salford and Manchester who might have some point data for you. I suppose the thing is getting the details of the allotment secretaries/contacts, charges waiting lists is key to this and that is the hard bit.
See you next Tuesday
Julian
Julian Tait
Open Data Cities and Digital Innovation
M: 44 (0)7802 851 394
Skype: Julianlstar
Twitter: @julianlstar
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