18 replies to this topic

[che]

Most of you will be aware that I have asked this question on 2 previous occasions and whilst it has provoked interest from members the owners remain tight lipped.
Recent changes to the site include the removal of the voluntary donation tool and we are now looking at some other means of funding this site.
If time can be found to make alterations to the site it should be possible to answer queations posed by members.
The blurb for the book states that it was written to redress the balance of power in the planning system and that Dave will answer questions on the forum.
It would appear the author can not be bothered but would like the members to answer the questions for him.
Suspect the idealism of Field to farm is dead.
I believe the concept could be developed with work but more emphasis is put on traffic. Despite the fact we have over 16000 members and about 100 visitors per day, in reality there are about 20-30 engaged visitors per day.

Please informthe people who use this site what the future holds ie subs and what will happen if this is not a sucess. It is but common courtesey

[admin]

The site changes are my fault (Steve). As you know I manage the site as a volunteer and the less time it takes to admin the better.

Several things changed yesterday.. I updated the forum software to version 3.2 (this is a big upgrade). This required an updated theme. Also, the final release of ipwi was available (the software that joins the forum to the main site and lets people login).

I've updated all of the apps and hooks that provide additional functionality. There's also a new bit installed that manages inactive members automatically so that hopefully we can get towards a truer number of registered members.

We had problems on the old forum software. The login mechanism was a bit flakely and I had to do a fair bit of manual maintenance. People can now reset their own passwords again and the registration is simpler.

The forum donations going missing is my fault. I just haven't got round to adding the image back again (it was 2am when I finished). I'll try to add it back today some time.

With respect to the future of the site I honestly don't think Dave has made up his mind. He doesn't know that I made the site changes yesterday (I don't usually tell him when I do upgrades).

[che]

Thanks for the reply Steve and I do understand your position but it is time Dave indicates what is to happen. Dave appears to have lost iterest in this site but seems unwilling to let it pass into the hands of those who do care. It is essential that there is a forum for planning issues but it could migrate to other sites. This could reduce the effectiveness of both the site and the book.

[admin]

I've notified Dave and he is going to have a think and come back with an answer on when a decision will be made.

I will say that the fieldtofarm.com domain is tied very tightly to the main website. Realistically, given the backlinks from google and the fact that the domain wouldn't carry over if it was separated.. it would be simpler just to start again in a new place. So, new domain, low cost hosting, maybe a few adverts to offset the basic costs would make it sustainable. People could then complain about the speed and reliability as numbers increase

Several thousands of pounds have been invested in the domain.Nobody would simply give away a website with that kind of investment.

Book sales decline and yet the forum has a consistent yearly cost. The forum is a good community resource, being run on good hosting and I believe is fitting the needs of everyone technically.

The money being asked for per year by donation is to offset the declining book sales versus the cost of upgraded hosting (necessary only to support the hosting). Let's say for instance that the book sales decline to zero.. would everyone expect Dave to continue footing a 500 pound bill per year?

Sites like wikipedia exist with an owner and donations. The community gets together and meets the financial needs.

Dave isn't great with computers so it takes him a lot of time to reply. He also needs to make an income as the books haven't made him rich. Combine the two and you'll see there's nothing nefarious about him not being so active.

I think the bottom line is that nobody is expecting anything from anybody. The moderators who provide most of the replies will never be expected to pay anything. If people want to go off and start a new site for agricultural planning permission questions then that's cool. I would say that it's a lot of effort to run and support a site like this, and it's pretty boring without traffic directing people here to post questions. My guess is that if we don't find a sustainable method of financing the site (a 1 time book purchase was possibly an optimistic business model for a site that could last years) then people can decide whether the value being offered matches whatever cost.

Any ideas are always welcome. I believe last time a poll was posted we got support for a small yearly subscription. However, donations (capped at the cost of hosting) were felt to be fairer.

[wrekin]

You get more money from people by giving away a useable free membership and then selling premium features. This is because there is no threshold to becoming actively involved in the site, and once people have, they are then motivated to place their paid ad or whatever here rather than on some other site. Flickr is a good example of a site funded this way.

Charging people to post replies on the main forums (ie planning) is not a good idea. This is the web, not print media, and the old economics don't apply.

[che]

Hi Steve thanks for the reply and hopefully Dave will give us decesion soon.

I am surprised you claim the site is too valuable to give away as Dave told us it would be shut down if donations/subs were not forthcoming. Are we to take it that it would be sold?

We all have to make a living and yet we find time to visit and post in order to help others. Daves profile and history has changed recently but it had been months since a contribution which is a little more than inactive.

This may seem negative but I just want to preserve the ethos and content of this site and some signals that the owners feel the same way.

[homegrown]

HI

After reading with interest over several months and not plucking up the courage to respond to anyting I felt I needed to add my opinion to this topic.

We have purchased the book and have read it in anticipation of us buying a piece of land (when we find it) and following our dream. We have the field to farm community open on our computer all day every day and read with interest everything that is written and we feel that a small yearly subscription would indeed work.

We are members of a smallholders group locally and we pay a yearly subscription to get a newsletter bymonthly, surely this, although not getting a newsletter we are gaining a very valuable resource in the community online every day and every piece of information that is put on here helps in one way or another.

We would like to thank Dave for a fantastic book and we would very much like to give him our support in agreeing in a yearly subscription should this be the way forward.

Hope you all have a wonderful christmas and a happy new year.

[admin]

Thank you for all of the kind comments.

I have a few websites and this is by far the hardest to work out in terms of what to do. In an ideal world everything would be open to everyone and we'd drive lots of traffic here and live off the advert income (that usually sustains the hosting fee). Then start to work out what premium features would entice people to upgrade to a paid version.

In reality, despite trying, the site doesn't attract traffic. I think the market is just too small. People don't click links because the niche that the book is in doesn't make them very relevant. We've tried the premium features route too (at one stage there was a guest / member / subscriber table showing what each would get). I'd welcome any ideas regarding what premium features to add - however, I honestly don't think anyone wants anything more than to just be able to get help (planning posts).

The only thing that sustains this site financially is the book sales. Opening up the forum so everyone can read everything reduces sales. If we really had thousands of active members then it might be a different story but from looking at the stats I'd hazard a guess that we have about 50 people look at the forum on a regular basis.

My suggestion at this point to my dad is to make the site subscription based (moderators will never have to pay). People who buy the book get a years subscription bundled and after 12 months is up they need to pay something like 10 pounds annually.

This is only my opinion. I managed to get Dave's account working last night (it was broken since we did the new login system) so a response should be coming soon.

Happy Christmas. I see the site is snowing

[saffire]

Happy christmas everyone

I regularly read the posts and would Just like to add my opinion to this one for what its worth.

I bought the book a few years ago and it gave me the courage and confidence to live on my land.
The planners misinterpreted (either intentionally or through ignorance) the planning law to try to prevent me from moving onto my land.
I followed the advice in the book - but more importantly I asked for help from users of this site. The advice and support I was given helped me through a very tricky time - I would have given up without it. As a result I Pointed out the errors the planners were making and have been left in peace since June.

I am certain that they will return with their clipboards at some point in the future but - armed with the 'knowledge' I have gained from the book and this site I feel I can operate within the law.

Previous to meeting Dave at the NEC Birmingham and buying the book I had engaged a so-called planning consultant - paid a hefty fee and basically was told there was no way I could live on my land. Happily he was wrong.

The cost of the book was the best investment I ever made and at £25 was significantly less than the £2000 charged by the consultant.

I would be happy to pay an annual subscription for this site to continue - its a drop in the ocean compared to the costs of being mislead by planning officers. I imagine that most others who have embarked on the same journey would feel the same - even though they may not take the time to voice it - if only for the security and support oif like minded individuals.

Happy new year to you all

Saffire

[Chris1]

Happy new year to all 'our' members, and anyone else in here so-minded. Indeed I have been somewhat inactive of recent months+ due to all sorts going on in my life, but generally all is well.

Due to various reasons, my(our) move in the direction of independence & self-sufficiency is on hold for the foreseeable future, but no-one should ever give up the dream if they can't achieve it as yet.

I've just been reading a few bits in here, and the subscription idea is I believe, a reasonable idea.
You get 'nowt f nowt' in this life, and anyone who doesn't think access to this site & all the invaluable info is worth a minimum of £10.00 per annum, doesn't live in the real world.

Regards & best wishes all.

[CabinMan]

I am fairly new here (1st time poster). I have two interests:

1 - I purchased some land with an intention of changing my life style. I find the information useful and encouraging. I have purchased the books and would pay to subscribe (have done previously for land bank information). You might be interested to know that Planningjungle.com has recently introduced a £50 subscription charge.

2 - I sell log cabins for a living and would be interested to PAY for visibility on this site i.e. sponsor/advertiser (I currently do so at a rate of £500/year on shedworking.com . I can see potential for all sorts of sponsors/advertisers from legal services to agricultural equipment sales.

Classified ads i.e. buy and sell, training etc. could also be a money spinner. Dave's other big opportunity could come from public speaking and running seminars/weekend events.

[Chris1]

Good bright morning everyone/ anyone...
Whilst mooching about in here this morning over cup(s) of tea, I see there was never any progression of
the subscription/ financing idea.

Although I am now very unlikely to undertake anything further than my sizeable veg & fruit garden &
firewood area, I still find this site to be of great interest. A man or woman can never have too much
knowledge. Hopefully some of us can help others with our own experience & knowledge, as often happens
already.

Depending on how much 'proper' law you comprehend, Daves' book may be less relevant than it was in the
beginning. However, this forum (especially judging by No. of visitors), is clearly an asset that needs
to be kept.

I would still be willing to pay a subscription to keep the forum going.

[bioduk]

I recently bought the book on the understanding I got free access to the forum, as every other member has.

 

I don't think it would be fair to those who contribute significantly to the forum by posting answers from their own experience to help other members should be asked to pay for the privilege of doing so. Indeed, the community would lose those members and at the same time its community ethos.

 

Surely the best way to fund the site would be through (relevant and useful) advertising?

[Chris1]

Fair point Bio. I bought the book in the dark ages, then discovered this site. ) Relevant & useful are good words...

[admin]

The price of hosting has reduced to the point that this is now a non issue. The site and forum will remain alive for as long as I am, and possibly a bit longer. So you have 50+ years left.

[brook farm]

not quite the topic as your admin asked tobe added as book owner on 28th may still waitng ig you can help got the book from this site

[admin]

Hi, you're a book owner. Says Book Owner or member underneath your picture on the left hand side.

[pigsmitefly]

steve, why dont you charge us to put adverts on here when we have things for sale, it would help with finance,

 

or a yearly membership fee,, a few quid wont bankrupt anyone,,,

[paulgwebster]

anyone about?