🌱 LocalGreenChain

A blockchain for plants that preserves lineage across clones and seeds, connecting growers worldwide.

LocalGreenChain is a revolutionary plant tracking system that uses blockchain technology to create an immutable record of plant lineage. Track every clone, cutting, seed, and offspring throughout multiple generations while connecting with nearby growers who share your passion for plants.

✨ Features

🌳 Lineage Tracking

• Track every plant from its origin through unlimited generations
• Record propagation methods (clone, seed, cutting, division, grafting)
• Build comprehensive family trees showing ancestors, descendants, and siblings
• Immutable blockchain ensures lineage data can never be lost or altered

📍 Geographic Connections

• Find plants and growers near your location
• Discover plant clusters and hotspots in your area
• Connect with people who have plants from the same lineage
• Build local plant-sharing communities

🔗 Blockchain Security

• Proof-of-work consensus ensures data integrity
• Each plant registration is a permanent block in the chain
• Cryptographic hashing prevents tampering
• Distributed architecture for reliability

🌍 Global Network

• Integration with plants.net API for plant identification
• Track how your plants spread across the world
• See global distribution statistics by species and location
• Join a worldwide community of plant enthusiasts

🎨 User-Friendly Interface

• Beautiful, intuitive web interface
• Easy plant registration with geolocation support
• Visual lineage explorer
• Network statistics dashboard
• Mobile-responsive design

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js 14+ and npm/yarn
• Basic knowledge of plant propagation (optional but helpful!)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/localgreenchain.git
cd localgreenchain

2. Install dependencies

npm install
# or
yarn install

3. Set up environment variables (optional)

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env and add your plants.net API key if you have one:

PLANTS_NET_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

4. Run the development server

npm run dev
# or
yarn dev

5. Open your browser Navigate to http://localhost:3001

📖 How It Works

The Blockchain

LocalGreenChain uses a custom blockchain implementation where:

• Each block represents a plant registration or update
• Proof-of-work mining ensures data integrity
• Cryptographic hashing links blocks together
• Genesis block initializes the chain

Plant Lineage System

Original Plant (Generation 0)
    ├── Clone 1 (Generation 1)
    │   ├── Seed 1-1 (Generation 2)
    │   └── Cutting 1-2 (Generation 2)
    ├── Clone 2 (Generation 1)
    └── Seed 3 (Generation 1)
        └── Clone 3-1 (Generation 2)

Every plant maintains:

• Parent reference: Which plant it came from
• Children array: All offspring created from it
• Generation number: How many steps from the original
• Propagation type: How it was created

Geographic Discovery

The system calculates distances between plants using the Haversine formula to:

• Find plants within a specified radius
• Cluster nearby plants to show hotspots
• Suggest connections based on proximity and species

🎯 Use Cases

For Home Gardeners

• Track your plant collection and propagation success
• Share clones with friends while maintaining the lineage record
• Find local gardeners with similar plants for trading

For Plant Nurseries

• Provide customers with verified lineage information
• Track all plants sold and their offspring
• Build trust through transparent provenance

For Conservation Projects

• Document rare plant propagation efforts
• Track genetic diversity across populations
• Coordinate distribution of endangered species

For Community Gardens

• Manage shared plant collections
• Track plant donations and their spread
• Build local food security networks

For Research

• Study plant propagation success rates
• Track genetic drift across generations
• Analyze geographic distribution patterns

🛠️ API Reference

Register a Plant

POST /api/plants/register
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "id": "plant-unique-id",
  "commonName": "Tomato",
  "scientificName": "Solanum lycopersicum",
  "location": {
    "latitude": 40.7128,
    "longitude": -74.0060,
    "city": "New York",
    "country": "USA"
  },
  "owner": {
    "id": "user-id",
    "name": "John Doe",
    "email": "john@example.com"
  }
}

Clone a Plant

POST /api/plants/clone
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "parentPlantId": "parent-plant-id",
  "propagationType": "clone",
  "newPlant": {
    "location": {...},
    "owner": {...}
  }
}

Find Nearby Plants

GET /api/plants/nearby?lat=40.7128&lon=-74.0060&radius=50

Get Plant Lineage

GET /api/plants/lineage/plant-id

Search Plants

GET /api/plants/search?q=tomato&type=species

Get Network Statistics

GET /api/plants/network

🏗️ Architecture

Tech Stack

• Frontend: Next.js, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS
• Blockchain: Custom implementation with proof-of-work
• Storage: JSON file-based (production can use database)
• APIs: RESTful endpoints
• Geolocation: Haversine distance calculation, OpenStreetMap geocoding

Project Structure

localgreenchain/
├── lib/
│   ├── blockchain/
│   │   ├── types.ts          # Type definitions
│   │   ├── PlantBlock.ts     # Block implementation
│   │   ├── PlantChain.ts     # Blockchain logic
│   │   └── manager.ts        # Blockchain singleton
│   └── services/
│       ├── plantsnet.ts      # Plants.net API integration
│       └── geolocation.ts    # Location services
├── pages/
│   ├── index.tsx             # Home page
│   ├── plants/
│   │   ├── register.tsx      # Register new plant
│   │   ├── clone.tsx         # Clone existing plant
│   │   ├── explore.tsx       # Browse network
│   │   └── [id].tsx          # Plant details
│   └── api/
│       └── plants/           # API endpoints
└── data/
    └── plantchain.json       # Blockchain storage

🌐 Scaling for Mass Adoption

Current Implementation

• Single-server blockchain: Good for 10,000s of plants
• File-based storage: Simple and portable
• Client-side rendering: Fast initial setup

Scaling Recommendations

For 100,000+ Plants

1. Switch to database: PostgreSQL or MongoDB
2. Add caching: Redis for frequently accessed data
3. Optimize mining: Reduce difficulty or use alternative consensus

For 1,000,000+ Plants

1. Distributed blockchain: Multiple nodes with consensus
2. Sharding: Geographic or species-based partitioning
3. CDN: Serve static content globally
4. API rate limiting: Protect against abuse

For Global Scale

1. Blockchain network: Peer-to-peer node system
2. Mobile apps: Native iOS/Android applications
3. Offline support: Sync when connection available
4. Federation: Regional chains with cross-chain references

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:

1. Add features: New propagation types, plant care tracking, etc.
2. Improve UI: Design enhancements, accessibility
3. Optimize blockchain: Better consensus algorithms
4. Mobile app: React Native implementation
5. Documentation: Tutorials, translations

Development Process

# Create a feature branch
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature

# Make your changes
# ...

# Run tests (when available)
npm test

# Commit with clear message
git commit -m "Add amazing feature"

# Push and create pull request
git push origin feature/amazing-feature

📜 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Inspired by the global plant-sharing community
• Built with Next.js and React
• Blockchain concept adapted for plant tracking
• Geocoding powered by OpenStreetMap Nominatim

📞 Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions
• Email: support@localgreenchain.org

🗺️ Roadmap

Phase 1: Core Features ✅

• Blockchain implementation
• Plant registration and cloning
• Lineage tracking
• Geographic search
• Web interface

Phase 2: Enhanced Features (Q2 2025)

• User authentication
• Plant care reminders
• Photo uploads
• QR code plant tags
• Mobile app (React Native)

Phase 3: Community Features (Q3 2025)

• Trading marketplace
• Events and meetups
• Expert advice forum
• Plant care wiki
• Achievements and badges

Phase 4: Advanced Features (Q4 2025)

• DNA/genetic tracking integration
• AI plant identification
• Environmental impact tracking
• Carbon sequestration calculations
• Partnership with botanical gardens

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Built with 💚 for the planet

Start your plant lineage journey today! 🌱