While we're proud of our little workhorse, we have bigger plans for her. GreenMachine 1.0, currently in development, will support the following additional features:

• More locations to choose from, and more information when you get there. We are building a database of information collected from more than 3,000 agricultural reporting stations that will allow users to better pinpoint their local climate conditions. In addition to the spring frost-date data used in the beta version, the update will offer details including growing season length, mean monthly temperatures and day lengths, the percentage chance of killing frosts at a variety of dates, and more. We are developing more powerful tools to access and use this information, including region-sensitive crop selections that will allow us to offer full coverage of Alaska and Hawaii – the only states not supported in the current version – and to offer users regional tips to assist them when they plan to cultivate crops that pose a challenge in their region.

• Personal data storage. We hope to offer users the ability to store, edit and retrieve personal planting information.

• Electronic calendar support. GreenMachine 1.0 will offer downloadable calendar files for Palm Pilots, Outlook and iCal calendar systems, among others.

• Printable products. We are exploring options regarding low-cost, home- or shop-printed calendar and journal materials for download.

• Links to local information and resources. Results pages will offer a variety of external links to regional and state gardening resources and garden suppliers based on your location and personal declarations of your gardening style and priorities.

• Additional garden calculators and tools. Every once in a while in our development process, we put together a nifty little gadget that doesn't fit into the garden planner. We will offer these calculators and planning aids as an additional gardener's toolbox for those who love to make smart use of technology to support and enhance their gardening and small farming.

Don't miss the release of the full version of GreenMachine – join our email list and we will contact you when GreenMachine 1.0 is online.