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Contributing to Howtopedia

Howtopedia grows through shared practical knowledge. Volunteers write original how-to articles, improve existing entries, and translate content so simple technologies reach more communities. This guide explains how you can take part.



What you can contribute
We welcome articles on agriculture, water supply, energy, waste management, construction, small business, health, education, and community organisation. Each entry should describe a simple technology or method that individuals or small groups can apply with basic tools and clear instructions.

Five steps to get started

1. Choose your language wiki. Visit the English wiki or the French wiki and read a few articles in your field to understand the format and depth we expect.

2. Check for existing coverage. Search the library before creating a new page. If a topic already exists, consider adding measurements, safety notes, local materials, or step-by-step photos rather than starting a duplicate article.

3. Request editing access. Contact the Howtopedia team through the About page on the English wiki with your name, background, and article proposal. We assign usernames to contributors who can document practical experience or reliable source material.

4. Draft with clear structure. State the problem, list materials and tools, describe each step in order, and note risks or maintenance needs. Use plain language. Drawings and photographs help readers who work in the field.

5. Publish and maintain. Save your article, watch the page for comments, and update it when methods or materials change. Translations are equally valuable: a well-sourced French or English article can be adapted for another language wiki with credit to the original author.

Quality standards
Articles should be accurate, reproducible, and free of promotional language. Cite measurements, cite source projects where possible, and avoid copying copyrighted text. Howtopedia does not review every edit in real time, so authors share responsibility for what they publish. Read our legal disclaimer for liability information.

Other ways to help
You can report broken links, suggest public-domain manuals, share field test results, or support the project financially. Even short notes on how you applied an article in your community help other readers judge whether a method fits their situation.

Return to the Howtopedia homepage to access the language wikis, or read the legal disclaimer before publishing content.

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