Farmhack Collaboration Venues
[Farm Hack](farmhack.net) uses [Drupal](http://drupal.com/) based wiki's to document tools, the content of which is user generated. Any member can create a new tool, wiki, problem statement, or forum topic. Discussion in forums is tied to particular tools, but non-tool threads may be started as well. Farm Hack tools often use embedded content, such as google spreadsheets, vimeo or youtube videos, or photosharing sites to add rich media to wiki documents. Farm Hack is exploring, with facilitation from ifixit.com, [Dozuki](http://www.dozuki.com/) for tool documentation.
Farm hack is also collaborating with many Food Systems organizations on new collaborative tools to facilitate data sharing.
The [Food Knowledge Ecosystem Project](http://nefke.nesawg.org/shared-calendar) associated with [NESAWG (North East Sustainable Agriculture Working Group)](http://nesawg.org/), is managing the standards for the collaboration. Most of the food systems organizations are using Drupal, but the tools being developed will not depend on Drupal. The first projects that have emerged are a Drupal based shared calendar of events, and shared RSS feed standards. Shared maps and layers are also scheduled along with a common taxonomy, and shared organizations, people, and projects. Farm Hack's Open Shop concept will function as a tool to subscribe to collaborative content across organizations and make conversations, problem statements and tools embeddable in sites other than Farm Hack. Farm Hack is also exploring APIs for other collaborative tools (like etherpad, classOS) to create a richer user experience and add new functionality.
Farm Hack currently uses a combination of Google drive tools, [Hackpad](hackpad.com), [Trello](trello.com) and Google Hangouts for collaborative Project management, and is exploring [bugherd](http://bugherd.com) as a collaborative bug tracking tool used and recommended by the [Open Food Network](http://openfoodnetwork.org/).
Farm Hack hosts weekly organizer hangouts to review trello boards or to discuss network development or other relevant topics. The format is generally check-ins and introductions as relevant to Farm Hack and Farm Hack related projects, with special attention to new attendees. These calls are also used for most Board Meetings with the agenda and minutes taken live and shared for review during the meeting. The calls are also a way to introduce new members into the network and to solicit feedback on feature development and technical decisions. Farm Hack is also planning Live Hang-Outs called "Open Hours" based on a practice adopted by Public Laboratory. The Open Hours will profile projects in a moderated panel discussion with questions, comments and suggestions taken from the wider community.
