Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)

Online Farmer

- FW

Candide is a community-driven app built by gardeners for gardeners. It’s for horticultu­rists, hobbyist gardeners, small-space urban gardeners, garden-to-table enthusiast­s, and even those who just want to keep a pot plant alive.

It “encourages us all to reconnect with our gardens, and share the joy of gardening”, say the developers. “We believe that gardening is the root of happiness, and cultivates wellbeing for the mind and soul.”

The new app is available for both Android and iPhone users. Once you’ve downloaded it, you simply click the ‘Follow’ button to be introduced to the Candide app community in South Africa.

instagram-style layout

The Candide layout looks very similar to Instagram and works in the same way, allowing you to follow other users. All of these accounts will appear in your newsfeed in the same way as your friends’ posts appear on your Facebook page.

Users can customise their news feed to show all posts, unanswered questions, people they’re following, saved posts and so forth. (In keeping with the gardening theme, the ‘Like’ button here is called the ‘Dig’ button!)

share your expertise with fellow gardeners

You can post a picture, ask a question or share a gardening tip with the community. If you have the necessary expertise, you can help other users find solutions to problems they discuss online.

In the news feed in the bottom left corner of the photograph, you can see whether this is a general post or question, and can then reply, ‘dig’ the post or share it with anyone you choose using Whatsapp, email or any of the many social media apps.

detailed informatio­n and growing guide

The app has a list of hundreds of plants with images, detailed informatio­n on their properties, cultivatio­n and potential problems, and a ‘How to’ section for each plant. You can also find and follow public gardens and garden-related businesses in South Africa. • Facebook: facebook. com/candideapp­sa; Twitter: twitter.com/candide_sa.

• Greg Miles is a livestock farmer and Internet marketer. Email him at farmerswee­kly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Online farmer.

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greG miles

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