Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-334). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Perry R. Miller. Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs) have become a viable local source of fresh agricultural goods and represent a potentially new way to improve fruit and vegetable consumption among individuals and families. Studies concerning CSAs have focused mainly on characteristics of the typical CSA member and motivations and barriers to join a CSA program. The purpose of this study was to examine whether behavior and attitudinal differences existed between current CSA members and a nonmember control group. Specifically, ecological attitudes, eating out behaviors, composting frequency, and family participation in food preparation were assessed. This study utilized an online survey comprising items from previous survey research as well as newly created items. A total of 115 CSA member and 233 control survey responses were collected. CSA members were more likely to be older, have more education, and have a higher income than the control group. The majority of CSA members surveyed were female, identified as non-Hispanic and Caucasian, earned a higher income, and reported being the primary food shopper and preparer. The majority of members also noted that the amount and variety of fruits and vegetables they ate and served their family increased as a result of joining a CSA. CSA members were more ecologically minded compared to the control group. Frequency of eating out was not significantly different between groups. However, eating out behaviors were different between income categories. CSA members spent significantly more money at each meal eaten away from home and spent significantly more money on eating out each week. In both cases, controlling for income attenuated differences between groups. CSA members composted at a significantly higher rate and took part in other eco-friendly behaviors more often than the control group. Finally, no significant difference was evident between the two groups when analyzing family involvement in food preparation and meal decision-making. Overall, some significant attitudinal and behavioral differences existed between CSA members and non-CSA members. Further research is necessary to examine other distinctions between the two groups and whether these differences occur as a result of CSA membership. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2011

SILVA, Cristiane Moreira da. Agricultura alternativa e sustentabilidade : o caso do assentamento novas vidas em Ocara, Ceará. 2004. 101 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Programa Regional de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente, Fortaleza-CE, 2004. / Submitted by demia Maia (demiamlm@gmail.com) on 2016-04-29T12:15:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2004_dis_cmsilva.pdf: 780240 bytes, checksum: 729c2db94a43b71fc664a05ff65ccecd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by demia Maia (demiamlm@gmail.com) on 2016-04-29T12:16:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2004_dis_cmsilva.pdf: 780240 bytes, checksum: 729c2db94a43b71fc664a05ff65ccecd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T12:16:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2004_dis_cmsilva.pdf: 780240 bytes, checksum: 729c2db94a43b71fc664a05ff65ccecd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / The present study tried to analyze the implications of the alternative agriculture in the establishment Novas Vidas – Ocara – CE, considering the social, environmental and economic aspects. For so much, they took place a field work in the sense of they be tabulated information that allowed a characterization and understanding in the production ways and organization of establishment, because such area represents a differentiation place, because it was one of the first establishments of agrarian reform of Ceará they convert it the conventional production into alternative, through the organic agriculture. The method used in the research took into social, environmental and economic variable account, through an investigation process, where they were applied and later on the tabulated 17 questionnaires for the 20 seated families. According to the obtained data, seated them they use 34,5ha are with subsistence agriculture and 4,2ha are with vegetable gardens, both produced in an organic way. Even so, same possessing earth and water for irrigation the explored area is small, because, the establishment possesses a total area of 693,67 ha. The results indicate that, in the social aspects, it is observed that the problems of health are not verified with frequently and the education, what demonstrates progresses in the improvement of the life quality. In agreement with the environmental variables, it is verified that the abandonment of practices that they degrade the environment is present in the place. Already in what it says respect to the economic aspects, the analysis aims the need to obtain mechanisms of a larger generation of income and resolutions for problems of economic nature, because, becomes an negative point to be solved. The agriculture of the establishment represents a model of more balanced development, at least in what it tells respect the environmental subject, even so it is necessary that is created initiatives to turn it more effective in the generation of income. Solved that problems, the model could represent an exit for the problem of the insustainability agricultural production, by means of the application of an alternative agriculture that glimmer the sustainability life the field. / O presente estudo procurou analisar as implicações da agricultura alternativa no assentamento Novas Vidas - Ocara – CE, considerando os aspectos sociais, ambientais e econômicos, visto que tal área representa um local de diferenciação, pois foi um dos primeiros assentamentos de reforma agrária do Ceará a converterem a produção convencional em alternativa, através da agricultura orgânica. O método utilizado na pesquisa levou em conta variáveis sociais, ambientais e econômicas, através de um processo de investigação, onde foram aplicados e posteriormente tabulados 17 questionários dentre as 20 famílias assentadas. Segundo os dados obtidos, os assentados utilizam 34,5ha com agricultura de subsistência e 4,2ha com hortas, ambas produzidas de forma orgânica. Porém, mesmo possuindo terra e água para irrigação a área explorada é pequena, visto que, o assentamento possui uma área total de 693,67ha. Os resultados indicam que, dentre os aspectos sociais, observa-se que os problemas de saúde não são constatados com grandes freqüências e que há a valorização da educação, o que demonstra avanços na melhoria da qualidade de vida. De acordo com as variáveis ambientais, constata-se que o abandono de práticas que degradam o meio ambiente é presente no local. Já no que diz respeito aos aspectos econômicos, a análise aponta a necessidade de se encontrar mecanismos de uma maior geração de renda e resoluções para a questão econômica, visto que, torna-se um ponto negativo a ser solucionado. A agricultura do assentamento representa um modelo de desenvolvimento mais equilibrado, pelo menos no que diz respeito à questão ambiental, porém é necessário que se crie iniciativas para torná-la mais eficaz na geração de renda. Resolvidos tais problemas, o modelo poderia representar uma saída para o problema da insustentabilidade da produção agrícola, mediante a aplicação de uma agricultura alternativa que vislumbre a sustentabilidade da vida no campo.

No description available.

No description available.

Significant support for sustainable agriculture practices exists within the land-grant university system nationwide. Despite this fact, many colleges, including the University of Florida, have not evaluated the individual paradigms held by their faculty. An existing Alternative-Conventional Agriculture Paradigm Scale was modified, improved and converted into an electronic instrument that was administered to a random sample of University of Florida Extension Faculty. It is suggested that data collected through this study serves the following purposes: assist the University of Florida’s decision-makers in better understanding the positions held by their Extension agents; allow improvement of educational programming for Extension agents, agricultural professionals, and communities throughout the state; and provide input for improvement of University-wide policy-making and goal-setting. The study consisted of three phases: a) redevelopment and pilot-test of a new ACAP instrument; b) description of University of Florida Extension faculty’s paradigmatic preferences; and c) determination of any existing relationships between personal characteristics and an individual’s paradigm. A pilot study of the new instrument was conducted with participants belonging to known paradigmatic groups who were not part of the final sample. The survey was found to be reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.94 in a pilot test of 26 individuals. The survey was found to discriminate effectively between the two known paradigmatic groups (t=4.091, p= .001), making it a useful tool in quantitatively assessing agricultural preferences. Following the pilot study, survey research was conducted with a random sample of 188 Extension agents. The majority of faculty aligned with agricultural paradigmatic groups labeled Moderates and Sustainables. Very few of this population aligned with a Conventional paradigm. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a preliminary seven-factor solution. Two individual component factors were found to vary based on Extension discipline and gender, which included Size and Scale of Production and Use of Natural Resources, respectively.

In “Letters from the Inside,” Stephanie Anderson presents a vision for sustainable, regenerative agriculture from the perspective of someone born and raised on a conventional cattle ranch. From Florida to New Mexico to the Dakotas, she traces the stories of farmers and ranchers who are already creating such an agriculture. She argues that producers, in tandem with consumers and government, hold the power to change what is currently an environmentally and socially destructive food system. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.F.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O presente estudo procurou analisar as implicaÃÃes da agricultura alternativa no assentamento Novas Vidas - Ocara â CE, considerando os aspectos sociais, ambientais e econÃmicos, visto que tal Ãrea representa um local de diferenciaÃÃo, pois foi um dos primeiros assentamentos de reforma agrÃria do Cearà a converterem a produÃÃo convencional em alternativa, atravÃs da agricultura orgÃnica. O mÃtodo utilizado na pesquisa levou em conta variÃveis sociais, ambientais e econÃmicas, atravÃs de um processo de investigaÃÃo, onde foram aplicados e posteriormente tabulados 17 questionÃrios dentre as 20 famÃlias assentadas. Segundo os dados obtidos, os assentados utilizam 34,5ha com agricultura de subsistÃncia e 4,2ha com hortas, ambas produzidas de forma orgÃnica. PorÃm, mesmo possuindo terra e Ãgua para irrigaÃÃo a Ãrea explorada à pequena, visto que, o assentamento possui uma Ãrea total de 693,67ha. Os resultados indicam que, dentre os aspectos sociais, observa-se que os problemas de saÃde nÃo sÃo constatados com grandes freqÃÃncias e que hà a valorizaÃÃo da educaÃÃo, o que demonstra avanÃos na melhoria da qualidade de vida. De acordo com as variÃveis ambientais, constata-se que o abandono de prÃticas que degradam o meio ambiente à presente no local. Jà no que diz respeito aos aspectos econÃmicos, a anÃlise aponta a necessidade de se encontrar mecanismos de uma maior geraÃÃo de renda e resoluÃÃes para a questÃo econÃmica, visto que, torna-se um ponto negativo a ser solucionado. A agricultura do assentamento representa um modelo de desenvolvimento mais equilibrado, pelo menos no que diz respeito à questÃo ambiental, porÃm à necessÃrio que se crie iniciativas para tornÃ-la mais eficaz na geraÃÃo de renda. Resolvidos tais problemas, o modelo poderia representar uma saÃda para o problema da insustentabilidade da produÃÃo agrÃcola, mediante a aplicaÃÃo de uma agricultura alternativa que vislumbre a sustentabilidade da vida no campo. / The present study tried to analyze the implications of the alternative agriculture in the establishment Novas Vidas â Ocara â CE, considering the social, environmental and economic aspects. For so much, they took place a field work in the sense of they be tabulated information that allowed a characterization and understanding in the production ways and organization of establishment, because such area represents a differentiation place, because it was one of the first establishments of agrarian reform of Cearà they convert it the conventional production into alternative, through the organic agriculture. The method used in the research took into social, environmental and economic variable account, through an investigation process, where they were applied and later on the tabulated 17 questionnaires for the 20 seated families. According to the obtained data, seated them they use 34,5ha are with subsistence agriculture and 4,2ha are with vegetable gardens, both produced in an organic way. Even so, same possessing earth and water for irrigation the explored area is small, because, the establishment possesses a total area of 693,67 ha. The results indicate that, in the social aspects, it is observed that the problems of health are not verified with frequently and the education, what demonstrates progresses in the improvement of the life quality. In agreement with the environmental variables, it is verified that the abandonment of practices that they degrade the environment is present in the place. Already in what it says respect to the economic aspects, the analysis aims the need to obtain mechanisms of a larger generation of income and resolutions for problems of economic nature, because, becomes an negative point to be solved. The agriculture of the establishment represents a model of more balanced development, at least in what it tells respect the environmental subject, even so it is necessary that is created initiatives to turn it more effective in the generation of income. Solved that problems, the model could represent an exit for the problem of the insustainability agricultural production, by means of the application of an alternative agriculture that glimmer the sustainability life the field.

In recent years, the production and marketing of local food has become the fastest growing segment of the natural food industry and an important part of the sustainable agriculture movement. The heightened attention to local food systems has bolstered farmers markets attendance, Community Supported Agriculture memberships, and Farm to School programs. The movement has gained such popular salience that in 2007, "locavore" (defined as a person who seeks out locally grown foods) was Oxford American Dictionary's word of the year. Many scholars have also recognized that local food systems may provide positive economic effects (Swenson 2009) and have the potential to build community relationships (Kloppenburg 2000; Lyson 2004). This thesis is based on ethnographic research among local food producers in Iowa that was conducted between June of 2008 and August of 2011. Here I examine the daily practice of producing and marketing local food and consider the challenges producers face in their attempts to develop economically viable farms. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between small-scale direct market producers and their larger-scaled conventional neighbors, the implications for rural labor associated with alternative agriculture and small-scale processing, and the strategies producers use to meet the demands of diverse market outlets such as farmers markets or institutions. I argue that, while producers differentiate their farms from the conventional, industrial system, they are embedded within it. Local food producers must contend with the same land shortages and federal policies as conventional producers and in some cases they make use of the equipment and expertise of their conventional neighbors.