FAQ Month

From Ukcider

FAQ month is during November 2006. The purpose is to concentrate our combined efforts for a shortish period on "barn raising' to help build and expand the cider makers FAQ ( Frequently Asked Question page(s)). No obligation on anybody, but even if only a few people take part, it could make a big difference and be enjoyable and productive through teamwork.

During the designated month, we can have different people taking on various roles eg

• Ask new questions on the mailing list

Seems to happen anyway at this time of year

• Reply to them

Yes, questions always receive replies

• Copy the most relevant answers onto the FAQ

needs attention

• Volunteer specialist areas of expertise by posting little bits of knowhow onto the wiki

sporadic

• Go back through the group archives and recover previous good answers and questions

Not tried this yet. The new Googlegroups portal might help, then there's the old yahoogroup to wade through as well, if anybody is feeling nostalgic.

• Formatting, proofreading, correcting and editing wiki pages.

tends to get done promptly after new content is posted, I think.

• Learn more about cider making and about collaborating on a wiki FAQ.

perhaps the conversation mode of the email list is more natural for this, but not always.

• other roles

The aspiration is that at the end of it we will have a substantially enlarged and more useful cider makers FAQ section available.

Yes, it's developing but slowly.

This will help all the new people who are starting to get involved, and could be seen as a satisfying and worthwhile thing to do because after the end of the month, the FAQ will have become something which we can refer to whenever the same questions arise again, and it will continue to develop at a more normal pace thereafter.

unanswered questions

• all about pumps - at least 2 years worthg of answers to sift through
• Orchards - several sections to fill out.
• Pruning shears - where to buy silky fox
• Apple Mills/Scratters - general info on types and link to homemade pages
• Containers - why glass is better than plastic for longer term storage, where to obtain various containers.

so how did it go then?

• The FAQ has grown from something just starting out into a sizeable resource.
• Lots of cidermaking issues were being discussed on the list during the month. Some directly on the wiki.
• At least 5 people helped to build the FAQ.
• wiki FAQ is known about in the community and referred to.

• What could have gone better?

What next?

• Continue to transfer faqs as they arise
• Tidying loose ends
• The timing of FAQ month seemed to work out well. Propose to make it a regular event for next year etc.
• anticipate growth beyond a single page - explore options.