Difference between revisions of "How to Start an Article"

From Howtopedia - english
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
'''AFTER CREATING OR CHOOSING A TARGET ARTICLE FROM THE MAIN CHAPTERS, COPY THIS ARTICLE WITH ITS SYNTAX FROM THE EDITING WINDOW (CLICK ON EDIT ABOVE THE ARTICLE) AND PASTE IT IN THE EDITING WINDOW OF YOUR FUTURE ARTICLE.'''
 +
'''PLEASE DO YOUR FIRST TRY IN THE [[sandbox|SANDBOX]]'''
 +
 
{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
  
−
==Seedballs==
+
=How To .....=  
 +
==Short Description==
 +
*'''Problem:'''
 +
*'''Idea:'''
 +
*'''Difficulty:'''
 +
*'''Price Range:'''
 +
*'''Material Needed:'''
 +
*'''Geographic Area:'''
 +
*'''Competencies:'''
 +
*'''How Many people?'''
 +
*'''How Long does it take?'''
 +
 
 +
==Description==
 +
Write here the description of the technology and the steps to achieve the goal. It should be recipe like.
 +
If there are several possibilities to do the same thing, think about dividing the article: Maybe there are even so many different possibilities that this technology needs a special section.
 +
Try to be as clear as possible, use relatively simple terms or give the definition of complicated words: Not everybody who reads (or writes) English is a native speaker!
 +
 
 +
==Difficulties==
 +
Don't forget pointing out difficulties, even potential dangers if they exist.
 +
*Are there some parts that can't be replaced? Are there some difficult manoeuvres?
 +
*Some difficulties might appear with the new good or the new common good, try to address such themes as management of the new good, repairs, acceptance and reaction of the community. Does the technology ask for a cultural change?
 +
*If you think an information needs a special attention and should be diffused only under certain circumstances, consider:
 +
# Not diffusing it at all,
 +
# Warn us about the potential danger of one article at warn@howtopedia.org,
 +
# Ask to have an article protected at protect@howtopedia.org.
 +
 
 +
==Success Story==
 +
Are important because they illustrate how a technology or a know-how have been adopted by some people and how they changed their lives. The story should be real and also show the difficulties that had to be overwhelmed. You are not selling a product, you are trying to give someone tools so he can decide if a technology is an appropriate solution to his problem or not.
  
−
Seedballs are based on the work of Fukuoka Masanobu (Author of “The One Straw Evolution”). It is a method of encapsulating compost and plant seeds within a big ‘marble’ of clay, which can then be dropped, rolled or hurled into a location of one’s choice. <br>
+
==Plans, Illustrations, Posters==
 +
Try to have the clearest illustrations possible, imagine them being photocopied 5 times and what's left of them. The best would be black and white line drawings.
 +
Have letters on the illustrations to make legends in several languages possible.
 +
Try to have precise plans, but keep in mind one should be able to adapt the design to it's possibilities.
 +
Ask yourself if a poster that could communicate the know-how would be relevant. Let some space for traductions in local languages, or make two versions of the poster.
 +
We will try to raise a community of illustrators to help by the illustrations, but try to make at least a scheme for the start, so that this scheme can be later refined.
  
−
While in the nature, the balls are protecting the seeds from being blown away by the wind or washed away by water, eaten by animals or desiccated in the sun. When there is enough rain water, the seedballs melt and the clay acts as a reservoir keeping the young plant moist. <br>
+
[[Image:Rainwater-harvesting.png|Rainwater harvesting]]
 +
[[Image:Rainwater-harvesting.png|center|400px|Rainwater harvesting]]
 +
[[Image:Rainwater-harvesting.png|center|thumb|200px|Rainwater harvesting]]
  
−
By choosing several plant species which are appropriate to each type of target area (eg. shade-loving plants, or fast growth ‘hardies’) we can then let Nature decide which plant will flourish in a particular microclimate – rather than forcing the issue as in the case of tree planting. <br>
 
  
−
Gathering seeds is a pleasure and a person can make several hundred seedballs in a day. It's a very gentle and mellow activity, that children may also enjoy.  
+
helptopic on images: [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Images]
  
−
==Caution==
+
==Contacts==
−
# '''This technique is quite powerful, so be sure that you use only native non invasive plants!!!'''
+
They are the real people behind the technologies. That is to say You. It is important not to leave the technologies "alone", BUT don't give the contact information of someone you don't know and who didn't give his or her permission to do so.
−
# There might be some work in preparing the seeds between collection and seed-balling. Also, not all seeds can stay “alive” long enough
 
−
# The seeds may take some time to sprout and grow. Maybe even only the next season. This is not an instant rewarding action, but the wild seeds have good chances to grow under these conditions. <br>
 
  
−
==How ?==
+
==Links==
−
You will need:
+
Don't give too many links, try to give quality, not quantity. Choose them carefully as being real reference links for the technology you are presenting.
−
* 5 parts clay earth,
 
−
* 3 parts organic compost,  
 
−
* 1 part water
 
−
* 1 part seeds.  
 
  
−
The clay can either be harvested from the nature, in dry riverbeds for example. It is practical to have it in powdered form, so dry it and grind it up if it is wet. <br>
+
==Bibliography==
 +
The same as for the links.
 +
If you have a very good bibliography, though, don't hesitate to create a separate article, specified as a bibliography, with links and books.
  
−
The compost is organic matter and already contains the microorganisms that will help the plant's roots to take nutrients from the surrounding soil. It can be either homemade or you can buy it by a farmer or in a gardening shop. <br>
+
==Related articles==
 +
Mention here the other howtopedia articles that relate to the subject.
 +
Name them exactly the same as the original title so that redirection functions.
  
−
The seeds can either of one only plant to have a monoculture or a combination of many seeds for reintroducing biodiversity and reclaiming dead areas. Ideally have a mix that includes types of seeds that will do well in a variety of conditions appropriate to your climate and needs. The best is to gather local seeds of wildflower and grass: thanks the seedball method you can enhance their reproduction in your bioregion. <br>
+
=='''Categories:'''==
 +
Mention the category, that is to say one or more themes for which this article is relevant, so that it can be recognized in these [[categories]], and quickly found by users.  
 +
Write them this way <nowiki>[[category:Example]]</nowiki>
 +
[[Category:Example]] [[Category:Stub]]
  
−
# Mix the clay, seeds and organic compost together in a big pot and add enough water to form a thick paste.
+
[[Category:Agriculture]] [[Category:Biogas]] [[Category:Commercial]] [[Category:Communication]] [[Category:Community]] [[Category:Composting]] [[Category:Computer]] [[Category:Construction]] [[Category:Cooking]] [[Category:Cooling]] [[Category:Crisis Management]] [[Category:Energy]] [[Category:Equipment Design]] [[Category:Food Poisoning and its Prevention]] [[Category:Food Processing]] [[Category:Forest]] [[Category:Health]] [[Category:Heating]] [[Category:Hygien]] [[Category:Ideas]] [[Category:Informatics]] [[Category:Mecanics]] [[Category:Mechanics]] [[Category:Pest control]] [[Category:Pollution]] [[Category:Prevention]] [[Category:Products]] [[Category:Recycling]] [[Category:Sanitation]] [[Category:Small Business]] [[Category:Soil]] [[Category:Transportation]] [[Category:Waste]] [[Category:Water]]
−
# Form this paste into little balls about the size of a marble.
 
−
#Let them dry in the shade into hard little balls.
 
  
−
#To apply, throw the seedballs where you want to spread the plants. The clay protects from predators. The seeds actually sprout inside the ball and take hold. <br>
+
[[Category:Dangerous]] [[Category:Difficult]] [[Category:Easy]] [[Category:High Technology]] [[Category:Medium]]
−
You don’t need to PLANT the seedballs in the soil...! The seeds are already planted in the balls.
 
  
−
==Links and references==
+
[[Category:Global Technology]] [[Category:Local Technology]] [[Category:Arid Climate]] [[Category:Forest Environment]] [[Category:Global]] [[Category:Mediterranean Climate]] [[Category:Monsoon Climate]] [[Category:Montaneous Environment]] [[Category:Rural Environment]] [[Category:Temperate Climate]] [[Category:Tropical Climate]] [[Category:Urban Environment]]  
−
[http://www.ecofilm.de/inhalte/films/fukuoka_eng.htm Film about Fukuoka Masanobu (German)]
 
  
−
[http://www.pagancluster.org/resources/seedballs.htm Jesse's seedball recipe]
+
[[Category:Between 50 and 200 US$]] [[Category:Less than 10 US $]] [[Category:Less than 10 US$]] [[Category:Less than 50 US$]] [[Category:More than 200 US$]]
  
−
[http://www.sces.org.nz/content/seedballnz/ Seedballs New Zealand]
+
[[Category:Ashes]] [[Category:Banana]] [[Category:Cardboard]] [[Category:Clay]] [[Category:Coffee]] [[Category:Cow dung]] [[Category:Garlic]] [[Category:Glass]] [[Category:Manure]] [[Category:Oil]] [[Category:Paper]] [[Category:Plastic container]] [[Category:Sawdust]] [[Category:Seeds]] [[Category:Seedlings]] [[Category:Straw]] [[Category:Vetiver]] [[Category:Wool]] [[Category:Fly Ash]] [[Category:Coal]] [[Category:Lime]] [[Category:Cement]] [[Category:Rice Husk]] [[Category:Bricks]]
 +
[[Category:More than 5 Persons]] [[Category:One Person]] [[Category:Up to 5 Persons]]
 +
[[Category:Application]] [[Category:Principles]]  
  
−
==Categories==
+
[[Category:Administration]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested articles]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested drawings]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested images]] [[Category:Pages listed for deletion]] [[Category:Permanently protected]]
−
[[Category:Stub]]
 
−
[[Category:Agriculture]] [[Category:Community]] [[Category:Forest]] [[Category:Ideas]] [[Category:Small Business]] [[Category:Soil]]
 
−
[[Category:Easy]]
 
−
[[Category:Global Technology]] [[Category:Arid Climate]] [[Category:Forest Environment]] [[Category:Global]] [[Category:Mediterranean Climate]] [[Category:Monsoon Climate]] [[Category:Montaneous Environment]] [[Category:Rural Environment]] [[Category:Temperate Climate]] [[Category:Tropical Climate]] [[Category:Urban Environment]]
 
−
[[Category:Less than 10 US$]] [[Category:Clay]] [[Category:Compost]] [[Category:Seeds]] [[Category:Seedlings]] [[Category:One Person and more]]
 
−
[[Category:Application]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested drawings]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested images]]
 

Revision as of 10:56, 20 May 2009

AFTER CREATING OR CHOOSING A TARGET ARTICLE FROM THE MAIN CHAPTERS, COPY THIS ARTICLE WITH ITS SYNTAX FROM THE EDITING WINDOW (CLICK ON EDIT ABOVE THE ARTICLE) AND PASTE IT IN THE EDITING WINDOW OF YOUR FUTURE ARTICLE. PLEASE DO YOUR FIRST TRY IN THE SANDBOX

This article is a draft. It was just started and needs further work.


How To .....

Short Description

  • Problem:
  • Idea:
  • Difficulty:
  • Price Range:
  • Material Needed:
  • Geographic Area:
  • Competencies:
  • How Many people?
  • How Long does it take?

Description

Write here the description of the technology and the steps to achieve the goal. It should be recipe like. If there are several possibilities to do the same thing, think about dividing the article: Maybe there are even so many different possibilities that this technology needs a special section. Try to be as clear as possible, use relatively simple terms or give the definition of complicated words: Not everybody who reads (or writes) English is a native speaker!

Difficulties

Don't forget pointing out difficulties, even potential dangers if they exist.

  • Are there some parts that can't be replaced? Are there some difficult manoeuvres?
  • Some difficulties might appear with the new good or the new common good, try to address such themes as management of the new good, repairs, acceptance and reaction of the community. Does the technology ask for a cultural change?
  • If you think an information needs a special attention and should be diffused only under certain circumstances, consider:
  1. Not diffusing it at all,
  2. Warn us about the potential danger of one article at warn@howtopedia.org,
  3. Ask to have an article protected at protect@howtopedia.org.

Success Story

Are important because they illustrate how a technology or a know-how have been adopted by some people and how they changed their lives. The story should be real and also show the difficulties that had to be overwhelmed. You are not selling a product, you are trying to give someone tools so he can decide if a technology is an appropriate solution to his problem or not.

Plans, Illustrations, Posters

Try to have the clearest illustrations possible, imagine them being photocopied 5 times and what's left of them. The best would be black and white line drawings. Have letters on the illustrations to make legends in several languages possible. Try to have precise plans, but keep in mind one should be able to adapt the design to it's possibilities. Ask yourself if a poster that could communicate the know-how would be relevant. Let some space for traductions in local languages, or make two versions of the poster. We will try to raise a community of illustrators to help by the illustrations, but try to make at least a scheme for the start, so that this scheme can be later refined.

Rainwater harvesting

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rainwater harvesting


helptopic on images: [1]

Contacts

They are the real people behind the technologies. That is to say You. It is important not to leave the technologies "alone", BUT don't give the contact information of someone you don't know and who didn't give his or her permission to do so.

Links

Don't give too many links, try to give quality, not quantity. Choose them carefully as being real reference links for the technology you are presenting.

Bibliography

The same as for the links. If you have a very good bibliography, though, don't hesitate to create a separate article, specified as a bibliography, with links and books.

Related articles

Mention here the other howtopedia articles that relate to the subject. Name them exactly the same as the original title so that redirection functions.

Categories:

Mention the category, that is to say one or more themes for which this article is relevant, so that it can be recognized in these categories, and quickly found by users. Write them this way [[category:Example]]

Retrieved from "http://en.howtopedia.org/?title=How_to_Start_an_Article&oldid=7384"