As part of a commitment to educating consumers about where their food comes from, the Wimpole Estate Farm in Cambridgeshire, England will allow 10,000 people to take control of a fully operational farm and make important decisions about how its run— over the internet. The project, called MyFarm, is operated by the National Trust.
Starting on May 26, the 10,000 amateur farmers will conduct monthly votes about how the farm should be run. They will work in conjunction with farm manager Richard Morris and will discuss progress and concerns throughout the month. Morris says the three main themes for decisions will concern what the farm grows, what animals it raises and the wider impact of the farm on the surrounding environment.
To participate in the program, users will pay £30. In return, they'll get access to webcams, videos and other information from the farm community. The majority decision from every major vote will be implemented, whether or not Morris agrees with it. The farm currently produces "meat, eggs, wheat and oil seed rape." Members of the National Trust said the decision was partially based on the popularity of Farmville, a Facebook game with more than 47 million current users.
Check out this promotional video for the project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihrf328O9a0&feature=player_embedded
Photo by: chlob0t
