Hi Ania

Thank you for the suggestion. This is a good idea. I will discuss it with our web developers Andrea and Fish and see what it would take to make this happen.

Happy wwoofing!!

Becky
Coordinator (as at January 1st :))

I recently got a WWOOF Canada membership and I've started working on creating a Google Map of all the host listings. So far I've plotted over 240 hosts.

As the website has an embedded Google map already, if the suggestion of making a map is with Google, I would inform that depending on how much information is included along with a plotted marker on the map, all available listings across Canada (plus Homer, Alaska!?) might not be allowed to be viewed at the same time. The reason for the problem is unknown to me at this time and might get resolved, but others at the Google help forum have also posted comments related to how when the map they were creating had too much information, the program began to show only smaller portions at one time. This happened to me shortly after I had input 200 host locations, so that I could only view about 10 at a time on one page whereas I was able to view about 200 on one page at a time. Just before posting this comment here now, I am able to view about 200 at a time again which seems to be some kind of limit which may be possible to work around, though I haven't figured how yet.

If a working solution is not available to view all hosts across Canada at one time, I would suggest making regional maps so that at least large areas (provincially or more) can be viewed at the same time.

I would also add that I have come across a fair number of host addresses that either are insufficient or even wrong so that I can not accurately locate them with Google maps.

I have also found that Google Maps is not entirely accurate in itself or is incomplete in many ways.

And, some addresses in the WWOOF Canada directory list only a mailing address and not a home address.

Lastly, maybe there's a way I could transfer the work I've done thus far to you (WWOOF admin) if you are considering making a map and with Google Maps. This is my first map creation attempt with Google so I'm not sure what is possible or not. Let me know if interested so we can investigate further about the possibility of transfering the data over. I will continue to make a complete map for myself either way.

I am just suggesting this because it seems that the wwoofers want a "general idea" of where the host is in terms of Canada or the province or the area of the province (ie. where on the west coast of Vancouver Island or where in the Slocan Valley).
There are a couple of things I am considering. I have some reservations about a large number of people being able to pinpoint where I live. When our very first wwoofer came she told us that we were the only hosts on our island that gave a street address. It's not a great concern for me, but it does make me think of the possible repercussions.
The other thought is that many rural residences don't have a "street address" as you are probably finding. It would be more efficient to pinpoint the post office and then the hosts can say something like ''we are located 15 km. from the town PO".
We belong to a home exchange program and this is how the locations are posted.
Just a suggestion.
Emily

There is a facility under google maps to plot your position using GPS co-ords. Most people nowadays have GPS in the vehicles to find there own co-ords out. Those people that don't can find there property (or as close as posible using Sat View) and add there own place marker.
Only problem i see here is what happens when the hosts year is up and they decide not to host again? That hosts pin will still be on the map.

Mitch

XBar9

Couch Surfing has an extensive map display and marker of every single 'surfer' around the world.

You select a few search criteria and the area you are looking to visit and POW - you can see them marked on the map.

When you click on a marker, the individual surfer's name and location comes up and clicking on their name takes you to their profile.

Perhaps their techs could let you in on the secret?

Noreen

Admin,

I think I have found a solution to plotting all hosts across Canada into a Google Map. The solution was posted at their Help Forum by a "barryhunter" a Top Contributor. I have applied his technique to the building of my map and thus far no problems, and I am now over 400 hosts plotted and they are all visible at one time. I'll keep you posted if I reach another breaking point or when I'm finished.

As mentioned above, maybe you can use the work I've done for the WWOOF website if you don't have another better solution.

Chris

PS. Noreen, I sent Couch Surfing an email asking about their world map and how they made it. I'm waiting for a reply, but when I went to their website to access the mapping feature, I didn't get the sense that all hosts could be plotted at once due to their filtering/screening criterias. I never bothered to try counting how many hosts showed up with the criteria I entered, but I doubt there was anywhere near 1.6 million, or however many members there are.

Hi Chris
I guess I was trying too hard to condense my post. I tend to ramble and give way too much detail.

Every Couch Surf member is plotted on the map according to the info they supply when registering.
Of course you never need to see every single member world-wide at the same time. The idea is to narrow down your search criteria to a certain area and then when you click on "Show on Map", you see all the little balloons. If there are dozens of people in one little area, the balloons are one on top of the other, but if you zoom out, they separate and you can then see individual members.

I also tried a world-wide open search and only 1,000 members were listed randomly in various areas of the world. I narrowed my search to Canada and again only 1,000 random listings. Montreal alone has a membership of 5796 and Toronto has 2677 surfers but if you click on those cities, only 1,000 random listings appear.

So I guess their system is limited to only displaying 1,000 members at a time.

Hi Noreen,

I didn't actually count the posts for the mapping display limit at the Couch Surfing website to try finding what their limit was. I noticed the stacking feature also. If you counted 1000, then if WWOOF decides to have a map then they would be able to post every host across Canada all at once as I figure that there are approximately 730 hosts at present. Hopefully Couch Surfing will reply to my email inquiry so they can also confirm what the limits are of the mapping program.

Thanks for the clarification,
Chris

I think that each host should be given the opportunity to put a map link of their farm location on their farm write up.

To make a map for your farm just go to the google maps and put in your address and then drag and drop the marker onto your farm. Then copy and paste the address onto your farm description. It is free. Go to

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.g...

For those hosts that don’t want this information available to everyone they could

a) make sure that this information is at the end of their listing so that is doesn’t show on the initial description that is viewable to everyone or

b) send this link only to wwoofers who are just about to come to your farm to help in their orientation.

However, for hosts who are concerned about privacy/security you may not want to make any listing as, once listed, your farm name and location is searchable on the internet on google maps.

What do you think?

Barbara

Barbara,
(Violet Creek Nursery)

Hi,

I think that having the hosts post a link for a satellite view of their property location is a good idea because this seems to be a relatively simple thing to do for a host plus less work for admin. And, should a master map of all hosts across Canada be made eventually and embedded in the WWOOF website by admin, then combining all the locations into one would also be relatively easy, and would most likely be accurate in regards to actual location.

At least for me, providing a map link would have been a lot easier for me in making a master map for reasons mentioned in previous posts above.

Chris

Hello all,

Great feedback and information on this post. Thank you all!

Mapping is on our "To Do List" but we haven't got there yet as other items are more pressing. But we will be reviewing your comments, concerns, and suggestions as we move forward with this.

Thanks again,

Becky

Our rural street address does not show up on a search so I opened Google Maps and found our map co-ordinates and copied them into our profile so prospective volunteers can find us.

It's not as convenient as seeing a bunch of markers within a given area but at least, for now, it gives an idea of where we are specifically.

Noreen

Some rural addresses do not show up on the google link. If this happens just type in the closest town and then drag the marker to your place. It takes a bit of fiddling, especially on dial up as I have, but it works. Then you can click on the "links" word at the right hand side of the page and copy and paste this on your farm write up. Here is the link you can start with.

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.g...

Barbara

Barbara
Thank you for the link.
For those who have not tried it, it opens the Google Business Center sign up screen.

From there you open an account, enter your address, email, phone # (if you want), a description of your farm ("business"), your produce/products, hours of operation (if applicable), any links you may have to a web site etc., and a picture of your place.

Give it a day or so and then do a Google Maps search on your name, business name or address and VOILA... a picture, your address, contact info, link to website and a marker on the inter-active map. Volunteers can see exactly where you are and zoom in or out to get more detail or just a general idea of the area. If you are located on a main road, the new Google Maps interface lets you zoom to street level, do a "360" with the "little man" and see actual photos of exactly what you would see if you were standing on the street.

FANTASTIC!!!
Thanks again Barbara

Thanks for the detailed explanation of how to list on the google map using the link. I am glad you found it useful. It is so easy and free!

However, I just searched your farm description but I couldn't find the link to your map, only the coordinates!!?? I thought you could list it there? It can't be a privacy issue if you put the coordinates. Did I miss it?

Thanks for letting me know. I will have to edit my profile now that I have the other registered.

Oops, no I won't - I just tried doing a google map search on ourselves and nothing came up. I'll have to look into this.

Noreen