Some design principles for open farm tools and questions to consider (and modify, discuss and add to)
Biology before steel and diesel – is there a way to approach this problem by using biological systems that add to soil health – such as cultural practices like cover cropping, mulching, crop or animal rotations etc.
Holistic approach – does this tool make me enjoy working with it as much as getting the job done faster?
I started a Pinterest board concerned with rural "methods, tools, and equipment,” and it’s currently updated to edge toward 1000 practical-site links. The "pins" (descriptive entries with pics) link to sites explaining methods, technologies, repurposing options, and tips of potential value to small farms and to homesteads.
https://www.pinterest.ca/joelbc/homestead-methods-tools-equipment/
Some ideas about how we might improve the structure of the tools pages without loosing flexibility and ease of use.
Here is an attempt to list a few of the skill sections we might want as we document some of the skills that may be needed to build open source tools (this will be a very partial list I am sure - and I am sure that the categories will need to be worked out more carefully) Ideally we can match these up with on-line tutorials already out there and with local vocational programs etc.
Computer Skills
How to use this site How to use design software opensource programming documentation and use of repositories etc.