Appropedia Foundation

Building rich, sustainable lives

History

Appropedia began as a grassroots initiative driven by individuals passionate about sharing sustainable living practices. In 2006, Lonny Grafman started working on Appropedia after being involved in various projects focused on working together for a greener future, both online and in real life. He saw the need for a space where people could come together to learn, share, and work on practical ways to tackle sustainability challenges. Appropedia, which kicked off in April 2006 as a MediaWiki platform, was his answer to that need. He wanted to make a place where anyone could find and share tips on open know-how. This vision attracted contributions from around the globe and invited others to join.

A couple of months later, in June 2006, a group of like-minded individuals formed the board of directors, and by 2007, they officially registered the Foundation. This move broadened Appropedia’s reach to include a wider range of topics on global development and living sustainably. It became the go-to place for detailed projects, new research, guides, connecting with others, and a lot more that you wouldn’t typically find on Wikipedia.

Over the years, Appropedia grew by partnering with schools for academic projects, welcoming communities with specific interests, and working with organizations to share their resources openly. All this time, it managed to keep the team small and focused.

In 2019, thanks to support from the Shuttleworth Foundation, Appropedia brought in an Executive Director. This helped the organization work on even bigger collaborations with non-profits, United Nations agencies, and local groups. Appropedia has stayed free for everyone, aiming to be a place where solutions are shared and information is available for solving big environmental challenges.

Over recent years, Appropedia has witnessed significant growth, with an increasing number of individuals contributing projects. This expansion has enriched the platform with diverse, sustainable solutions and brought recognition from various organizations and communities. Such acknowledgment highlights Appropedia’s critical role in promoting open knowledge and actionable strategies for sustainability. Appropedia.org has become an important resource for anyone looking for eco-friendly practices, demonstrating the impactful reach and potential of a collaborative, knowledge-sharing community. 

Now, Appropedia isn’t just a website; it’s a community. It’s a place where people from all walks of life come together to share what they know about living in harmony with our world. 

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