Feedback: Fridays host chat with Alan

It was a small, enthusiastic, and courteous crowd. Alan offered insights into the inner workings of the Foundation that we did not understand or appreciate until now. It was time well spent. The worst thing I can say is that Alan needs to learn to type faster! Talk about hanging on every word! I'm guessing he's dynamite in front of a live audience. But I guess that's the nature of the beast in a structured chat.

I'm encouraged to have more chats down the road: getting Mel into the chat is still our goal.

Yes, the hang time was difficult, but for me, it was well worth it! I learned a lot more about the Foundation. When I speak about SFG, in public and even here, I am afraid I am going to sound like a cult member. But "meeting" with Alan today confirmed for me that it is an organization of which to be very proud!

I was thrilled with the behavior of the "crowd". Thank you, Boffer, for your part in getting this to happen.

And if/when we get Mel on-line, I will turn the world upside down to be able to attend!

Great job for getting this going Boffer. I hung in there till the very end. It was great! You get for making this happen.

Perhaps in a future chat, the guest could post an intro on the Forum ahead of time. Alan's intro was wonderful and worth waiting out. But it did take quite a bit of the time.

I'm so glad I was there. I learned more than I expected.

I wasn't able to chat... it was scheduled at a time i couldn't really do it. I know there are likely to be chats at other times, too, and I look forward to participating.

One question about the chat function: Some other message boards that I participate in have a feature in the chat that retains everything posted for a certain period of time, one of them has 24 hours, another holds info for one hour. Is this a function that is or could be implemented here? I'd love to go into the chat function tonight and read what everyone was saying.

Thanks!
~Wyld

That was really fun and, as you said, Alan needs to type faster. It would have been great to have had a Skype session or some audio feed with Alan and Boffer via SFG chat, then we could have typed in our questions and grill him on how he creates electricity from SFG and a greenhouse That was cool.

The only issue I saw was that if you didn't type in, it would time you out after 20 minutes or so, I was surprised that hitting Refresh did not change your status as active.

That was really informative and it made me really upbeat about SFG and the future it holds. Exciting times indeed.
People that didn't make it, you missed a lot of neat information.

@Wyldflower: I sent you a transcript of today's chat.

Wyldflower wrote:other message boards that I participate in have a feature in the chat that retains everything posted for a certain period of time
Thanks!
~Wyld

The chat box is an integrated function of the forum's software, and therefore has more limited options than a stand alone chat program. (I know you know this but for some others) It's not unlike MS trying to satisfy every demand for new features in their browser or O/S and coming up short. Other folks end up creating stand alone software that does a much better job.

But, it's what we have for now. If you log into the chat box, there is a button that says 'archive'. It holds the chat. Unfortunately, it's a relatively small file, that self refreshes as it gets full. So, you'll be able to see some of the chat right now, I haven't looked yet to see how far back it goes. The chat did start on time at 12 noon EST


I just looked-it's all there! cool

arrrggghhh i keep forgetting the server is on a diffrent time zone then mei logged in and thought it might have been cancled or something becaus ei wa sall alone at 12 noon my time.


Oh well hopefully ill catch him on the next chat session

choksaw wrote: becaus ei wa sall alone at 12 noon my time.

LMAO The time posted was EST-isn't that what you're in, in FLA?

I just happened to stumble in on the chat not realizing it there was a guest speaker. Alan is cool and I'm glad I caught part of it. Thanks for making it happen Boffer

There is now a transcript available in the Greetings forum:



https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/greetings-f24/transcript-hosted-chat-alan-3-26-10-t771.htm

I wasn't there but read it all by going to the chat box and clicking on the archives button.

Great way to get things growing around here boffer. You did a great job.

Alan had lots of great information.

Looking forward to the next chat.

Thanks everyone for participating. Yes, I need to type faster, but just so you know. I had other people asking me questions at the same time that I was talking to you guys as well! I rarely get a free moment, even here! Alan

thanks for posting the thread with the transcript! Great idea, because now it's saved for 'posterity'.

I hope everybody knows I was just teasing about typing speed. It's the nature of the beast, it just takes time when you're the only one talking.

Besides, I know that in a normal chat environment, I can't keep up with him!

Oh brother, I was doing a homework assignment and compleatly missed that there was chat going on.

Deborah ....ptttthppphhhhh.

I missed the chat due to a scheduled appointment but I just finished reading the transcript. (Only took 15 minutes as opposed to 90. )
Congratulations boffer on a job well done. Like others, hearing from Alan has me even more excited and more optimistic about the future and possibilities for SFG. Not only is it a great system, it is a foundation built upon just principles. I FEEL GREAT about about SFG, what it is, who it is, and what they are doing. I'm proud to be a part of something like this. I ordered my teacher certification course last week and it should arrive any day now. I can't wait to start sharing SFG with others.
I look forward to more chats and more great news from the Foundation. Thank you Alan!

I was there for a little while, but had to leave. Thank you boffer for posting it for everyone!

I hope my comment about Alan not typing fast enough didn't offend him, I enjoyed every second of the chat and, yes, it was a huge success. I hope to be able to participate again. I was lucky today, I got to work from home so no firewall on the internet. Weeee!

I too was unable to attend but just finished reading the archive. It was very interesting. I noticed on the Home page under the list of certified teachers that there are NONE for my state of AR. I find this very puzzling as this is a very agricultural state, but not too surprised as it is dominated by large scale traditional farming. I'm a nurse and have lots of patients that are very wise farmers, yet they seem dumbfounded when I mention SFG. This is not my 1st year to SFG, but I am more determined and motivated this year than ever before to become successful and grow the most food I possibly can. I also want to learn to process/store my own food as well. I intend to pick a copy of the Ball Blue Book you mentioned boffer (others have recommended also). I agree with Alan, this is a tremendous stress reliever for me as my job is very stressful! I love people and love gardening (and have soooo much to learn) and am very interested in becoming certified in the future.

ayanefan wrote:I hope my comment about Alan not typing fast enough didn't offend him, I enjoyed every second of the chat and, yes, it was a huge success. I hope to be able to participate again. I was lucky today, I got to work from home so no firewall on the internet. Weeee!

No offense taken! just don't let it happen again! (kidding)

Ok , one of these days I'll remember to get up at 2 in the morning and join you for the chat


Trapper