How to get Totnes' Ooooby rock and rolling

Let's use this discussion to strategise a little. It will soon become clear what is working and more of those things can be done. And the things that don't work can be dropped. Nick started this group and asked: Any tips on starting things up? What works/what doesn't? Any suggestions on how to manage the needs/desires of the community? Possible development of application?

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  • At the same time as this, uploading photos to this group - of people in their gardens, and the gardens and produce and activities relating to food initiatives will, bring the Totnes group to life.

    Transition-Totnes-Nut-Capital.jpg

  • My first suggestions:

    Get some numbers on the group

    Start with people closest to you (geographically and intimately) who are growing food (or want to grow food) and get them joined up to the site and specifically to this Totnes group. You can send invitations by using the "invite more people" link in the upper right of the group page. When you do, be sure to let them know they will be expected to sign up to ooooby as part of the process.

    You will get alerted (as the initiator of the group) as each new person joins. Be sure to welcome them with a personal comment on their page - from a fellow Totnes'er.

    Start some discussions

    I suggest you setup a small number of discussions with a clear focus, such as:

    • Wanted
    • Offering
    • Seedling Swaps
    • Seasonal Recipes
    • Other

    (Ha ha - Pete started a couple of these before I could post this comment!)

    Don't start too many straight away, as the conversations will be too fragmented. It's more fun to go to a lively discussion than have to search through lots of different ones to find the same number of entries. In time though you will find ideas popping up in the "Other" discussion which warrant new discussions, or other people may start some. At some point you may find you want to start one called "Let's open an Ooooby Shop". Then you will know you are getting somewhere.

    We have thought a lot about how we can help you, and expect we will be learning together, but as a guide we are suggesting that when a group has sufficient activity to be able to support its own Ooooby Shop, then that is the time to break away from the main site and move the members of your group (Totnes) into its own Ooooby Totnes network, which will enable you to do more, because it is a site that is not distracted by activity from all over the world.

    I hope this helps as starting point, and perhaps it answers the first question.

    I am more than happy to support you and if you give me feedback I will learn too. :)

    James

    PS I have turned off the comments function for this group. This will require people to go to the relevant discussion (even it is the "Other" one), rather than post random non-threaded comments on the front page of the group. Go to Edit this group on the main page for the group to see this setting.
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