How to Create an Open Green Map in 3 Weeks using Social Networking Tools - a case study by Andrew Fenster, Green Map Intern, summer 2009

1. A Timeline:
Promoting an Open Green Map
with Social-Networking Tools
• Featuring the Northeast Permaculture and
Eco/Urban Agriculture Experimentation Network
– An Open-Source, Skill-Sharing and Social-Networking Platform that
Connects Permaculturists, Ecological Farmers and Urban Farmers in
the Northeast US.
– Goal: share information about Permaculture projects, experiments in
Urban Farming, Ecological Farming, Mushroom Cultivation, etc.
– Created by Andrew Fenster while interning at Green Map System
in Summer 2009
Permaculture Logo

2. Week 1 (6/22-6/28): Creating the Map and
Getting Started
• 1. Created a new Open Green Map at
OpenGreenMap.org/northeast-permaculture
• 2. Uploaded 10 sites in my home area - Hudson River Valley.
• 3. Made posts on a few Permaculture and Urban Agriculture Facebook
groups describing inviting people to upload their Permaculture and
Eco/Urban Ag Projects.
– “I made sure to say it was a new map and gave my contact info for
further questions…”

3. Week 1: Listserv Promotion!
• I e-mailed the NE Perma. and NYC Urban Ag. Listservs to invite people
to share their Permaculture and Eco/Urban Ag sites and to explore what’s
nearby in their communities.
• I received some messages from interested people from FB and Listservs
with info for me to upload. A few people suggested sites directly on the
Open Green Map, using its suggest-a-site tab.
• A few people replied that they were having technical difficulties
- “make sure to make it clear how to upload sites!”
An Urban Farm…

4. Week 2 (6/29-7/5): Promoting In-person!
• 1. Made a flier teaching people describing the purpose of the map. It explained
what details to collect and how to upload sites on the map. OGM’s Share &
Promot page has a model (along with other public engagement tools).
• 2. Handed out 25 fliers at the NE Perma. Convergence and received feedback
to make the map more like an “unofficial science research journal”
• 3. After the Convergence, people added 6 sites to the map. I uploaded 10 more
after getting some site suggestions from people at the Convergence.
- “be open to suggestions from your intended audience”
2009 Permaculture Convergence Gooseberries Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation on Logs

5. Week 3 (7/6-7/13): Encouraging
participation by sharing progress
• 1. I re-emailed the NE Perma. Listserv describing the updated map
idea (based on convergence feedback) and listed the current number of
sites - 32.
• 2. Subsequently, 10 sites were uploaded in a single day, and I received
more site suggestions.
An Urban Farm….

6. Week 3 Summary:
What worked the best?
• Now, the map has 46 sites and counting…..
• Listservs and FB groups work well because they directly reach people
who are interested in your map theme.
• In person promotion at conferences and workshops also works well and
allows people to give you feedback in person.
– “Use a mixture of all 3 and experiment with other networking tools!”

7. Future Plans…
• I hope that the map will serve
as a vehicle for sharing NE
Perma. and Eco/Urban Ag
Projects so that people can learn
from each other and skill-share.
• I plan to continue to email
listservs every month with an
update on the number of sites
and to invite people to continue
to upload more projects.

8. Explore at:
• http://OpenGreenMap.org/northeast-permaculture
• Enhance this map with your viewpoint and sites you work
with.
• Find out more about registering to create a Green Map at
http://GreenMap.org/join
• Contact us at info@greenmap.org