03 data sources

3) Data Sources for National Coverage

3.1 USDA Hardiness Zones

Current: hardcoded zone list, manual user selection.

National Source: PRISM / USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map

• URL: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
• Data Format: GIS rasters, shapefiles, ZIP code CSV
• Resolution: ~800m (CONUS/Alaska), ~400m (Hawaii/PR)
• Download: https://prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm/
• phzm_us_zipcode_2023.csv
• phzm_us_grid_2023.zip
• phzm_us_zones_shp_2023.zip
• Implementation:
• Bundle ZIP code → zone CSV lookup table
• Reverse geocode coordinates → zone via shapefile or grid query
• Third-party API option: phzmapi.org / waldoj’s frostline GitHub

Action Items:

• [ ] Download PRISM ZIP code CSV and bundle as app resource
• [ ] Add ZoneLookupService with ZIP → zone and coordinate → zone methods
• [ ] Update location creation to auto-populate zone from ZIP/coordinates

3.2 Frost Dates

Current: hardcoded Georgia region frost date ranges.

National Source: NOAA Climate Normals + Joel’s APIs Frost Date API

• URL: https://apis.joelgrant.dev/api/v1/frost/{zip_code}
• Data: First/last frost dates at multiple probabilities (10%, 50%, 90%)
• Coverage: All U.S. ZIP codes
• Based on: NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020
• Alternative: NCEI Climate Data Online (CDO) API for station-level normals
• https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/webservices

Implementation:

• Cache frost dates per ZIP code
• Update GDDRepository to query national frost API
• Calculate planting windows dynamically from frost dates + plant requirements

Action Items:

• [ ] Integrate frost date API (Joel’s or NCEI CDO)
• [ ] Add FrostDateService with ZIP/state lookup
• [ ] Update SeedReferenceData to use dynamic frost date resolution
• [ ] Generate planting calendars per user location, not Atlanta defaults

3.3 Native Plant Data

Current: static Georgia natives list.

National Source: USDA PLANTS Database + State Native Plant Societies

• Primary: USDA PLANTS Database
• URL: https://plants.usda.gov/
• State Search: https://plants.usda.gov/state-search
• API: NRCS ArcGIS REST Services
• https://nrcsgeoservices.sc.egov.usda.gov/arcgis/rest/services/government_units/plants_boundaries/MapServer
• Data: State/county distribution, nativity status
• Secondary: State Native Plant Societies
• Directory: https://extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/
• Each state has affiliated native plant societies (e.g., Georgia Native Plant Society → California Native Plant Society)
• Tertiary: FloraAPI (commercial, 30K+ species, county distribution)
• URL: https://floraapi.com/

Implementation:

• Query USDA PLANTS by state code for native/introduced status
• Maintain native plant society directory per state
• Cache native plant lists per state in database
• Update NativePlantsRepository with state parameter

Action Items:

• [ ] Integrate USDA PLANTS API for state-level native lookups
• [ ] Build directory of 50-state native plant societies
• [ ] Add state filter to native plants module
• [ ] Remove hardcoded Georgia natives or namespace as “Georgia reference”

3.4 Invasive Species

Current: Southeast regional invasives.

National Source: EDDMapS (Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System)

• URL: https://www.eddmaps.org/
• Maintainer: University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species
• Coverage: All U.S. states + territories
• State Reports: https://www.eddmaps.org/tools/statereport.cfm
• Distribution Maps: https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/
• API/Bulk Data: Query tool and EDDMapS Studio for custom exports

Implementation:

• Query EDDMapS by state for invasive species lists
• Flag plants in database with state-specific invasive status
• Display warnings when user selects invasives for their location

Action Items:

• [ ] Add InvasiveSpeciesService with state query support
• [ ] Scrape or integrate EDDMapS state reports
• [ ] Update plant profiles with per-state invasive flags
• [ ] Show location-aware invasive warnings in plant selection UI

3.5 Soil Survey Data

Current: Georgia region soil types (red clay, sandy loam, etc.).

National Source: NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO/gNATSGO)

• URL: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/soil-survey-geographic-database-ssurgo
• API: Soil Data Access (SDA)
• https://sdmdataaccess.nrcs.usda.gov/
• Data: Soil series, texture, pH, drainage, per mapunit
• Coverage: All states (SSURGO + gNATSGO)
• Web Soil Survey: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/web-soil-survey

Implementation:

• Query SDA by coordinates or county for soil mapunit
• Display dominant soil series and properties
• Pre-populate soil type picker with local soil series names

Action Items:

• [ ] Integrate NRCS SDA API for coordinate → soil series lookup
• [ ] Cache soil data per location in database
• [ ] Update location creation to auto-suggest soil type
• [ ] Add soil amendment recommendations per soil series

3.6 Weather Station Coverage

Current: single Atlanta PWS.

National Source: Weather Underground PWS Network

• Coverage: 250,000+ global stations, 180,000+ U.S. stations
• API: Weather Underground PWS API
• Current endpoint already in app
• Station Discovery: WU PWS map and search by coordinates/ZIP

Implementation:

• Add station search by coordinates or ZIP
• Display nearest stations to user location
• Allow multi-station selection for multi-garden users

Action Items:

• [ ] Add WeatherStationDiscoveryService
• [ ] Query WU for nearest stations by coordinates
• [ ] Update onboarding to suggest local stations
• [ ] Support per-location weather station assignment

3.7 Cooperative Extension Resources

Current: UGA Extension, Walter Reeves references.

National Source: Land-Grant University Extension System

• Directory: https://extension.org/find-cooperative-extension-in-your-state/
• All 50 States: Each state has land-grant university extension
• Example URLs:
• Georgia: extension.uga.edu
• California: ucanr.edu
• Texas: agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
• New York: cce.cornell.edu

Implementation:

• Build directory mapping state → extension URL
• Update AI context and Tavily allowed domains per user state
• Link to state extension in help/resources section

Action Items:

• [ ] Create ExtensionServiceDirectory with all 50 states
• [ ] Update TavilyService allowed domains dynamically per location
• [ ] Add state-specific extension links to help/glossary modules
• [ ] Update AI system prompts with user’s state extension

3.8 Pest & Disease Data

Current: none explicitly; relies on AI and generic plant knowledge.

National Source: USDA IPM Database + Regional IPM Centers

• National IPM Database: https://ipmdata.ipmcenters.org/
• 706 crop profiles, 171 Pest Management Strategic Plans
• Searchable by region/state/commodity/pest
• Regional IPM Centers:
• Northeastern, North Central, Southern, Western
• State-Level: https://www.ipmcenters.org/crop-pest-data/

Implementation:

• Query IPM database by state and crop
• Display common regional pests and diseases per plant
• Integrate with weather alerts (e.g., late blight risk)

Action Items:

• [ ] Add optional PestDiseaseService for state/crop lookups
• [ ] Cache regional pest profiles in database
• [ ] Link pests to plants in plant detail view
• [ ] Consider premium feature: disease pressure alerts

3.9 Pollinator Regional Timing

Current: atlantaNotes with Atlanta-specific timing.

National Source: State Extension Pollinator Guides + eButterfly

• Extension Guides: Each state extension publishes pollinator calendars
• eButterfly: https://www.e-butterfly.org/ (citizen science, range maps)
• USGS Pollinator Library: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/fort-collins-science-center/science/fort-pollinator-library

Implementation:

• Replace atlantaNotes with regionalNotes keyed by state or climate region
• Curate pollinator timing for major climate zones
• Link to state extension pollinator guides

Action Items:

• [ ] Rename atlantaNotes → regionalNotes with state key
• [ ] Curate pollinator timing for 8-10 major U.S. climate regions
• [ ] Add state extension pollinator guide links
• [ ] Update PollinatorReferenceData structure for multi-state support

3.10 Retailer Directory

Current: 40+ Atlanta retailers.

National Source: User-contributed + state-level directories

Implementation:

• Remove hardcoded Atlanta retailers or namespace as “Atlanta reference”
• Allow users to add local retailers
• Integrate Google Places API for nursery/garden center search
• Build community-sourced retailer database (optional cloud feature)

Action Items:

• [ ] Add user-contributed retailer feature
• [ ] Optional: Google Places integration for “nurseries near me”
• [ ] Namespace existing Atlanta retailers as reference/example
• [ ] Consider retailer database as WordPress cloud feature

3.11 Seed/Plant Reference Timing

Current: 103 plants with Atlanta frost-relative timing.

National Source: Dynamic calculation from frost dates.

Implementation:

• Keep plant profiles generic (frost-relative)
• Calculate actual dates from user’s frost dates, not Atlanta defaults
• Add state-specific variety recommendations (optional)

Action Items:

• [ ] Update header from “Atlanta, Georgia” to “Frost-relative timing for your location”
• [ ] Ensure all timing calculations use location’s frost dates
• [ ] Add optional state-specific variety database (e.g., tomato cultivars by heat tolerance)

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