Since we seem to still be getting a lot of new people without the Location field filled in...

[flowerbug]

Is there a way to get this a required feild or one that is more prominantly suggested? it would save a lot of us having to keep asking people to do this. in the text you can suggest that it just be general enough but useful so that people who are trying to help can have a chance to get a better reply... i hope this makes sense?

@Nifty or @Support

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Personally I think it should be optional. Different people have different comfort levels with how much information they give out online. I feel pretty safe here but I’ve had bad experiences on other sites so I’m more cautious. It took awhile before I felt comfortable enough to put just my general location (southeast) in my BYC profile. I’m not sure I would have made a BYC account had it required a location when I first signed up.

 

[Nifty]

I totally feel your frustration and concern. I too wish everyone would enter their locations.

Making the field required is definitely a recurring request on all my sites, and the perfect answer is always missing

After years of discussion, opinions, debate... and even some experimentation, we've found that the cons of making the location required outweighs the pros. So, we've decided to leave the field optional.

 

[flowerbug]

I totally feel your frustration and concern. I too wish everyone would enter their locations.

Making the field required is definitely a recurring request on all my sites, and the perfect answer is always missing

After years of discussion, opinions, debate... and even some experimentation, we've found that the cons of making the location required outweighs the pros. So, we've decided to leave the field optional.

ok, i do understand the concerns and you can see how i've filled it out for myself as i don't want to put in anything more specific.


perhaps a compromise is possible?


that is to not make it required but to add some more text by that entry to explain how helpful it is even if they would put in a general area/location as that would then keep the rest of us from asking them to fill it in and to make it easier to help them?

 

[ducks4you]

How about country and zone only?
I am not online here enough to ask about location, and wait for an answer, which people who say that it's intrusive but will GLADLY surrender when asked in the middle of a thread. If I kept track, I could tell where you live, bc you don't really keep it a secret.
You don't have to ask ME where I live, but you won't find my property by my location description.
But I don't remember from week to week where anybody lives, unless I see it with the avatar.
Maybe, the exception is that I know where @ninnymary lives , bc of that flying apple tree.
I choose to not answer questions if I cannot discern a general location. I noticed that my location is more specific that @flowerbug 's location, but I can figure out enough to tell flowerbug that plants that grow in My zone may not survive in flowerbug's zone.
Just sayin'...
it's not HIPPA.

 

[Dirtmechanic]

European grow zones have a different table than USDA. Just my 3 cents.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

You seem like the kind of person who is dedicated to helping others, if you can. Trying to help someone without knowing their general location is kind of hard especially how plants grow different based on the environment.
Privacy online isnt the same for everyone and people have valid reasons for wanting to feel their information is private. I like it being optional but I can imagine the frustration when you simply want to give good advice but, cannot without knowing the general area.

Eurpean grow zones have a different table than USDA. Just my 3 cents.

That's a good point.
Is there anywhere on TEG that shows a map of the different grow zones?
I don't know my grow zone ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and I didn't see the importance until reading this thread. It might be beneficial for new users who don't know the zones they live in, and especially if they're not comfortable giving their location freely.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

You seem like the kind of person who is dedicated to helping others, if you can. Trying to help someone without knowing their general location is kind of hard especially how plants grow different based on the environment.
Privacy online isnt the same for everyone and people have valid reasons for wanting to feel their information is private. I like it being optional but I can imagine the frustration when you simply want to give good advice but, cannot without knowing the general area.


That's a good point.
Is there anywhere on TEG that shows a map of the different grow zones?
I don't know my grow zone ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and I didn't see the importance until reading this thread. It might be beneficial for new users who don't know the zones they live in, and especially if they're not comfortable giving their location freely.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is there anywhere on TEG that shows a map of the different grow zones?

Do an online search on " USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". You should get all kinds of hits.

Or use this but they want your zip code.

Interactive Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

These zones are based on minimum annual temperatures. I don't find them useful for veggies since you account for that as to when you plant them. To me these zones are of more use for trees and bushes. Can they survive your winters?

When I was in Arkansas I was on the border of zones 6 and 7 so any tree I got needed to be good for zones 5, 6, 7 and 8. Especially fruit trees.

 

[flowerbug]

I noticed that my location is more specific that @flowerbug 's location, but I can figure out enough to tell flowerbug that plants that grow in My zone may not survive in flowerbug's zone.

i still think you have it backwards (with things getting warmer your zone should have shifted up not down)...