MediaHound

Anyone have any ideas for the site to make it better?
I have a few things in mind that I'd like to do, but I'd also like to hear from you guys.
TIA

Bananavilla

I would suggest some sort of a fancy pants banner or something so that when new users arrive they know where they are without having to start digging in to the content.
Mike

bananaman

This is the best Banana site by far .
It is my first visit every time.
There are some very knowledgeable people on here.
Can I suggest you have a "Banana growing tips " section, to which we can all contribute.
Also a "Zone site" so that we can see which varieties lend themselves to wich zone.
Just random thoughts.

Bananavilla

Also, a "Links" section. So we can accumulate all useful links in one place.
Mike

MediaHound

ok, I will add a wiki, which is like a blog that everyone can edit. It will have a list of the USDA zones, and people can tag it with the bananas they've successfully grown. There is a script like this that's available for the software we run, but may be incompatible with the (experimental) version we run. So there may be a delay on this, but it will be implemented sooner or later. How does this idea sound? Are you familiar with the 'wiki' concept? Do you think this is a good idea for the concept, or should we do something different?

Links will be added, this was one of the forefront ideas already slated.

For your banana growing tips idea, bananaman, aside from the forum already here dedicated to growing bananas, I will add a system so people can post articles they have written that stay in a seperate area for long term review. How does that sound? The system I have in mind allows people to comment on the articles as well, so they can become discussions in and of themselves.

And about the banner idea, Mike, can you elaborate some more? Personally, I think the navigation is fairly easy, although I'm aware this is because I'm used to it. What kind of system would work better?

bananaman

Thanks for a prompt and considered reply.
I regret to say that my knowledge of your software does not take me as far as your
"Wikis". I will take your word for it. !
I could contribute to a " Growing tips and accumulated knowledge" retained area, and would be very much interested in knowing how far my colleagues have pushed out the growing zones borders.
Thank you for making me feel part of your enterprise.
Greetings from a Musa grower in England.

JoeReal

Perhaps we can add a FAQ section where some of us can post and vote if these are helpful or not. The most helpful one goes to the top, the least useful one goes to the bottom (or we can select sort order based on date, usefulness, etc). This becomes long term and we can subdivide the FAQ into various categories suchs as Basic growing, Banana growing in colder climates, Growing in greenhouses, propagation methods (tissue culture or pup separation) fertilizers and potting media, organic growing, experimentations, etc.

I would like to see also actual tests of actual people in the US so that we can rate performances of banana varieties when planted outside in our zone or locations.

Another section would include the varieties and the research about those varieties.

tropicalkid

I second JoeReal on the FAQ area.More like a "tech" section where anyone can research info. on growing tips, seed sprouting, etc..The USDA zone map is also a very good thing in my opinion.
tropicalkid

Bananavilla

What I meant about the home page is that when someone types in www.bananas.org - they arrive at a message board menu with no real site banner or description as to what the site is all about. All they see is the little bananas.org in green writing.
Mabe just a simple intoduction to the site or something of that nature.

Kind of like they have done over here on this truck forum -
Why no link showing about?? www.dieselstop.com
Mike

All of these super fancy pants meesage board programs have something all whacked!! Link insert not working here

MediaHound

We are officially international!

TimChapman

As this site grows, the need for and usefulness of a good FAQ can't be understated. The main drawback of other sites like GW is that there are soooo many posts asking the same thing over and over and over again. Its understandable if there is no easy reference available, but its still annoying. I like the idea of having a FAQ forum, so a list of questions can be put together, answered and then inserted into the faq... either as one document or subcategories/forums as JoeReal suggested. I'd suggest pinning the faq, or link to it, in each subforum on the site. Having it is one thing, making sure people read it before posting a common question is another...

Tim Chapman

Southern-Grower

ditto tim,

all is needed was search.. folks wouldn't even do that !!

guy in canada started a FAQ but dropped the ball.

__________________
Happy Growing,

SG

Enjoy Life as it's too Short

MediaHound

fwiw
I have the articles system already installed and I'm currently doing some testing and experimenting with integration to the main site.

I ultimately decided to go with evo articles. Check it out.


Things are really shaping up around here

MediaHound

This is the formal thread for feedback and ideas for the articles system:
http://www.bananas.org/showthread.php?t=140
Please post your thoughts about it over there, for sake of keeping the navigation non-scattered.

Any other ideas for the site are still most welcome in this thread