Hi Julia,

Another thing you can do is to find a local person who have broad of knowledge
about the local plant. Ask him/her to give you escort to the surrounding
landscape such as farming site, local forest, garden, park, grave etc. Any
single plant you meet, ask him to explain the local name, the uses/value
(economic, cultural, ecological). If possible, collect sample of each plant you
meet to process it into herbarium. Later, you may need the specimen especially
if you want to know its scientific name. Once you have done, ask him to name
another person who may have good knowledge about local plants. Do the same
thing as you did with the first guide/respondent.

Have a great summer,


Bambang


--------------------------
Bambang Hariyadi
Graduate Student
Department of Botany - University of Hawaii
3190 Maile Way Honolulu, HI 96822


----- Original Message -----
From: julia parish <farnaby719@...>
Date: Friday, June 9, 2006 12:31 pm
Subject: [ethnobiologyHI] Re: Ethnobotonical Interview Methods
To: ethnobiologyHI@yahoogroups.com

> Aloha Tim,
> I am gathering background uses of plants used in the surrounding
> rural/small village area. I will be interviewing people
> surrounding
> the research station ranging in age from 25-50. I am unclear about
> the style yet, because i just arrived to Costa Rica. I know very
> little so far, and really starting from scratch. No one in my
> group
> nor my mentor have conducted interviews before, though a few
> people
> have vast knowledge of the species found here and their natural
> history. I am asking aound still though, and someone may show up
> later in the season.
> Mahalo, Julia
>
> --- In ethnobiologyHI@yahoogroups.com, "Timothy J Gallaher"
> <tjgallaher@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Julia,
> > Sounds like fun. What are you trying to find out. What do you
> know about
> > the style of the people, are they very direct? Are the people
> urban or
> > rural? Who will you be interviewing, old men/women, adults or
> children?
> > What do you know already?
> > Perhaps someone on the group has experience in the area and
> could
> help you
> > more directly. Or if not, the answers to the above questions
> might give
> > some clues to the best techniques.
> >
> > Tim Gallaher
> >
> > On 6/9/06, julia parish <farnaby719@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Aloha,
> > > I am in Costa Rica doing research at La Selva with OTS and I
> am
> hoping
> > > to conduct interviews with local people about their knowledge of
> > > plants usage in the area. I was wondering if anyone could help me
> > > find an interview format, or give suggestions?
> > > Mahalo, Julia
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>