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Recently, research on community gardens and their benefits to health and community has become very popular. However, this influx of research has failed to investigate challenges to successful community gardening. Some articles examine issues between community gardeners and the land owners, but other than these conflicts community garden challenges, like lack of participation and quality leadership, have not been discussed in the literature (Draper and Freedman, 2010). To allow future gardens to be as successful as possible it is important to identify potential obstacles. Additionally, it is just as important to continue to examine possible benefits, for example, physical activity and health benefits of community gardening and the breadth of community issues possibly addressed by community gardeners. Continuing to research on community will allow for more successful gardens and encourage funding for these programs. This study examines how food insecurity, health and community cohesion issues can be affected by community gardens in Central Florida. It also investigates challenges community gardens often face. To do this I conducted structured interviews with community gardeners and semi-structured interviews with community garden leaders at several gardens throughout Orange County, Florida. The results show that community gardens have several benefits including increased consumption of fresh produce, improved physical activity, mental health and community cohesion. However, gardens are not without difficulties. About a third of the gardeners and the majority of the leaders said that lack of participation was a challenge they faced.

В исследовании рассматриваются вопросы развития малого бизнеса с учетом совмещении получения экономической выгоды и снижения негативного воздействия от их деятельности на окружающую среду. Возрастающая роль международных экологических организаций вместе с трендом «зеленого потребления» влекут за собой меры, которые компании вынуждены принимать, чтобы снижать свое негативное воздействие на окружающую среду. В работе авторами выявлена проблема внедрения принципов и разработке инструментов оценки эффективности деятельности субъектов малого бизнеса в области экологии. Данная проблема тесно связана с реализацией стратегии экологически ориентированного предпринимательства как одного из важнейших направлений экологической модернизации процессов производства и потребления. Авторами приводятся рекомендации по внедрению системы экологического менеджмента в деятельность малых предприятий. Также дается эколого-экономическая оценка эффективности деятельности субъекта экологического предпринимательства в сфере малого бизнеса. Научная новизна заключается в совершенствовании методологии и методического инструментария внедрения системы экологического менеджмента на предприятиях малого бизнеса. / The study examines the development of small businesses, taking into account the combination of obtaining economic benefits and reducing the negative impact of their activities on the environment. The growing role of international environmental organizations, together with the trend of “green consumption”, entails measures that companies are forced to take in order to reduce their negative impact on the environment. In the work, the authors identified the problem of introducing the principles and developing tools for assessing the effectiveness of small businesses in the field of ecology. This problem is closely related to the implementation of the strategy of environmentally oriented entrepreneurship as one of the most important areas of environmental modernization of production and consumption processes. The authors provide recommendations on the implementation of the environmental management system in the activities of small businesses. An ecological and economic assessment of the effectiveness of the activity of the subject of environmental entrepreneurship in the field of small business is also given. The scientific novelty lies in the improvement of the methodology and methodological tools for the implementation of the environmental management system at small businesses.

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The role sustainability plays in today's society has increased in recent years, driven by the effects of global environmental challenges that the world is facing and an increase in regulations related to sustainable practices. To survive in today's competitive and challenging market, companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of integrating sustainability into their marketing strategies and business models.  The main goal of marketing is to reach and influence consumers' decision-making together with satisfying and building profitable relationships with customers, which is what the customer journey does by placing customers at the centre. Explaining why the concept of the consumer decision journey has been widely adopted among marketers in recent years. Companies very much depend on their relationships with their customers. Making it important to have the customer’s needs and wants in mind to grow and survive. The customer journey can be a useful framework in assessing and evaluating the decision-making process by mapping the touch points toward the purchase and thereby further improving the customer experience and relationship building with brands.  However, there is a gap in empirical research on sustainability coupled with the customer journey, and thereby also a gap connecting those fields with battery-powered products. This study aims to fill the research gap by investigating the critical points in the customer journey to identify where the sustainability aspect of battery-powered gardening products has a greater impact. To investigate the aim, a mixed research method approach was used in the form of primary data and secondary data. The primary data was collected through a mixed research approach by conducting interviews with employees at Husqvarna, and formulation of a questionnaire distributed on Facebook groups where the target group of gardening owners was reached. Secondary data was collected through scientific articles, literature, and reports.  Results show that sustainability is not viewed as a priority for customers, but rather a bonus. Customers value the attributes that follow with sustainable products, more than the product being sustainable itself and prioritise attributes that directly benefit them, such as ergonomics, quality and price. The lack of transparency among companies as well as inefficient communication strategies, hinders sustainable purchase behaviour.  Findings further indicate that customers are affected differently by sustainability in the different phases of the customer journey, however, sustainability seems to play a bigger part of the customer journey in the post-purchase phase.   This contributes to information about customer behaviour, needs, and views on sustainability that can help guide corporate sustainability initiatives and improve communication, products in the form of product development, and marketing strategies. / Medvetenheten om hållbarhetens betydelse har under de senaste åren ökat i samhället, vilket påverkats av de globala miljöutmaningar som världen står inför samt ökning av regleringar relaterade till hållbara metoder. För att överleva dagens konkurrensutsatta och utmanande marknad har företag därmed allt mer insett vikten av att integrera hållbarhet i sin marknadsföringsstrategi och affärsmodell. Huvudmålet med marknadsföring är att nå och påverka konsumentens beslutsfattande, samt att tillfredsställa och bygga lönsamma relationer med kunderna, vilket är vad kundresan, customer journey (CJ), gör genom att sätta kunderna i centrum, som i sin tur förklarar varför konceptet konsumentresa har blivit allmänt utnyttjat bland marknadsförare under de senaste åren. Företag är beroende av relationerna med sina kunder, det är därmed viktigt att som företag ha kundens behov och önskemål i åtanke för att växa och överleva. Kundresan kan vara ett användbart ramverk för att bedöma och utvärdera beslutsprocessen genom att kartlägga kritiska moment som leder till köp, och därigenom ytterligare förbättra kundupplevelsen och relationsbyggandet mellan kund och varumärke. Det finns en lucka i empirisk forskning inom hållbarhet kopplat till kundresan, och därmed också en lucka som förbinder dessa områden med batteridrivna produkter. Den här studien syftar till att fylla följande lucka genom att identifiera kritiska punkter i kundresan där hållbarhetsaspekter för batteridrivna trädgårdsprodukter är som viktigast. För att undersöka syftet användes en kombinerad forskningsmetod i form av primär- och sekundärdata. Primärdata samlades in genom en kombinerad forskningsansats där intervjuer genomfördes med anställda på Husqvarna, och utformning av ett frågeformulär som distribuerats i Facebook-grupper där målgruppen trädgårdsägare kunde nås. Sekundärdata samlades in genom vetenskapliga artiklar, litteratur och rapporter. Resultaten indikerar att hållbarhet inte betraktas som en prioritet för kunderna, utan snarare som en extra förmån. Kunderna värdesätter de egenskaper som följer med hållbara produkter mer än att själva produkten i sig är hållbar, och prioriterar egenskaper som direkt gynnar dem, såsom ergonomi, kvalitet och pris. Bristen på transparens bland företag samt ineffektiva kommunikationsstrategier utgör hinder för hållbart köpbeteende. Vidare tyder resultaten på att kunder påverkas olika av hållbarhet under olika delar av kundresan, men hållbarhet verkar spela en större roll i efterköps fasen.  Detta bidrar till värdefull information och insikt om kundbeteende, behov, samt syn på hållbarhet, vilket förhoppningsvis kan leda till att förbättra företags hållbarhetsinitiativ, kommunikation, produkter i form av produktutveckling, samt marknadsföringsstrategier.

What are the landscape style preferences of older people? What are the preferred outdoor activities of older people? In this study I want to raise the issue of how the external environment is aesthetically perceived, and how we as designers might facilitate the user’s needs in design. In order to incorporate user needs into a design program we must first develop methods to identify user needs. There is not a body of literature that identifies the landscape design preferences of older people. So it has been the major aim of this study to develop a process by which these preferences can be identified and utilized in a landscape plan. It has also been a primary goal of this study to work with a particular group of older people; to become familiar with them; to build a rapport; to observe behavioral patterns; and to allow the residents to contribute their ideas to the development of a landscape plan. The research methods employed were geared to encourage resident participation in the design process and to determine aesthetic preferences. The Wheatland Hills retirement center was selected for the study because it was a newly constructed facility with supportive residents and management. The residents were primarily educated, ambulatory, white, middle class females from rural and urban backgrounds living in an age-segregated congregate care facility. The first method of inquiry utilized environmental modelling techniques adapted for the sample. Since the residents were familiar with their site, a landscape design workshop was developed that would allow for a maximum amount of idea generating. On pre-constructed cardboard models, the residents were asked to create their ideal landscape. They worked in four teams ranging in size from 3-6people. Sixteen of the forty residents participated in the landscape design workshop. The results from the landscape design workshop were indicated on the four models. Therefore a system of landscape styles and design categories (LSDC) was developed for the study. From each model, the LSDC system was used to interpret significant design patterns. The checklist (Figure 63) indicated major programming preferences and ideas. Strong circulation and activity areas were denoted in one model. Strong planting design schemes were denoted in a second model. The third model addressed programming on all areas of the site, and the fourth model showed a strong native planting scheme. The second method was employed to determine landscape style preferences — the aesthetic concerns. A visual preference testing technique was adapted for the sample using the LSDC system. Forty-two images representing six landscape styles and seven design categories were shown in slide form first to the twenty participating residents. The residents then manually selected their favorite use of a landscape style from each design category, isolating the favorite print. The visual preference survey indicated that the most popular landscape style was the French-Italian formal landscape (Figure 74). Within the design categories of "water", "private space", "public space" and "plants for color", the favorite selection was the formal landscape. In two design categories; "plants in the built environment" and "pathways", the residents preferred the English cottage Landscape. And in the design category of "overall design", they preferred the conventional institutional landscape. The information generated from these two research methods points to a more complete visual and functional picture of what the residents prefer in their landscape. As designers, we must not only interpret user needs on a programming level, but we must also consider the landscape aesthetic, the preferred style. The resulting conceptual landscape plan (Figure 76) has incorporated the preferred elements from both methods. It was found that the residents preferred to view a series of controlled outdoor planting habitats sandwiched between programmed activity rooms. This illustrates their need to extend the building into the landscape — to create a series of rooms that are easily accessible, yet have their purpose. These rooms are to hold a badminton court, or a chain swing. They want wide paths to accommodate two people or a wheelchair. They want to see native plant materials such as the dogwood and rhododendron. They want to see pretty pastel colors from their window, rather than bright red, yellow or blue. They want scented gardens, spring gardens, rock gardens and aquatic gardens, and most importantly they want the programmed space to get them there safely. Then they want to be able to sit and admire the pretty landscape and their friends using the next door space. This study has employed two innovative research methods for the purpose of creating a more whole design. The conceptual landscape plan that has evolved from this study is dynamic and designed for a specific user group. There is no doubt that the methods used could be applied to other user groups, and there is no doubt that the results might change significantly based on the differences of the group. Yet the process of this inquiry has yielded information that can be applied to design. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Food insecurity refers to the lack of reliable access to nutritious and affordable foods for people of all backgrounds (Meenar and Hoover, 2012) and is a problem faced by approximately 50 million Americans (Smith, 2011) and thirteen percent of North Carolina households. Food security and poverty have been directly linked and North Carolina's poverty rate (14.3%) is above the national level (13%) (Curtis, 2010). Community gardens have been recognized globally by many experts including health professionals, community organizers, environmental activists, and policymakers, as an "important contributor to economic development, food security, and environmental management"(Baker, 2004). Together, these professionals use gardens as a means to educate the public about food production and nutrition. Empirical research has documented many community garden benefits, however, the examination of educational programs associated with these gardens is limited. The purpose of this case study was to examine the development and implementation of a beginner gardening program and its influence on program participants in an area known to be food insecure within North Carolina. The researcher utilized multiple means of qualitative methods including: 1) semi-structured pre- and post- interviews with program coordinators and participants, 2) content analysis, 3) a reflection journal used to observe the program, and the facilitation of a 4) focus group with program participants. The findings revealed the challenges program coordinators encountered throughout the development and implementation, as well as the effects of the beginner gardening program on program participants. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Thesis (M. Tech) --Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are amongst the most destructive insects in agricultural crop production systems. This reputation stems from their complex life cycles which are mostly linked to a parthenogenetic mode of reproduction, allowing them to reach immense population sizes within a short period of time. They are also notorious as important and efficient vectors of several plant viral diseases. Their short fecund life cycles allow them to be pests on crops with a short growth period, e.g. lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). It is common practice to provide this crop with some degree of protection from environmental extremes on the South African Highveld. Shadehouses are popular in this regard, but aphids are small enough to find their way into these structures, and their presence on lettuce is discouraged due to phytosanitary issues. In addition, the excessive use of insecticides is criticized due to the negative influence on human health, and because aphids can rapidly develop resistance. This necessitates the use of alternative control options in order to suppress aphid numbers. Biological control is popular in this regard and the use of predatory ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a popular choice. This study investigated the aphid and coccinellid species complex encountered under varying shadehouse conditions on cultivated head lettuce in the central Free State Province (South Africa). Their seasonality was also examined, along with variations in their population size throughout a one-year period. Finally, the impact of varying aphid populations on some physical characteristics of head lettuce was examined, and recommendations for aphid control (using naturally occurring coccinellid predators) were made. Two shadehouse structures were evaluated during this study. One was fully covered with shade netting and designed to exclude the pugnacious ant, Anoplolepis custodiens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while the other was partially covered with shade netting (on the roof area) allowing access to the ants. Six cycles of head lettuce were planted and sampled four times during each cycle. These were scheduled to monitor the seedling, vegetative and heading stage of lettuce. Four important aphid species were recorded on the lettuce, namely Acyrthosiphon lactucae, Nasonovia ribisnigri, Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae. Both structures harboured similar aphid and coccinellid species, but their population dynamics differed. A. lactucae dominated in the absence of A. custodiens in the fully covered structure (whole study), while N. ribisnigri dominated in the partially covered structure in the presence of these ants during the warmer months (December – January). M. euphorbiae replaced this species as the dominant species in the absence of A. custodiens (April – September). M. persicae occured during the winter (May – August) in the fully covered structure. Promising coccinellid predators were Hippodamia variegata and Scymnus sp. 1, and to a lesser extent, Exochomus flavipes and Cheilomenes lunata. However, the fully covered structure hampered the entrance of the larger adult coccinellid species, resulting in their lower occurrence. Aphid and coccinellid activity peaked during the summer months (October – January), and the fully covered structure attained the highest aphid infestation levels and coccinellid larval numbers during this time. On the other hand, aphid numbers were higher in the partially covered structure during the cooler months of the year (April – July) and this structure also harboured more adult coccinellids. In most cases, aphid infestation levels did not affect the amount of leaves formed. However, symptomatic damage in terms of head weight reduction did occur under severe infestation levels. Specific environmental conditions within a shadehouse structure concurrently contributed to this reduction, with less favourable conditions accelerating this condition. Results from this study have shown that even though the type of shadehouse structure does not influence the insect species complex found on lettuce, it does have an influence on detrimental and beneficial insect population dynamics. Aphid species infesting lettuce have been identified, along with coccinellid predators that could potentially be used in their control. Both types of structures had advantages and disadvantages, and therefore, decisions concerning shadehouses should not be focused on which type of structure to use, but rather which type of structure to use during different seasons of the year.

This qualitative case study concerns the educational processes undertaken in an environmental programme of Timeleni Bomake group at Nsingweni, a rural community in Swaziland. At the time of the research most of the group members were elderly women with about four men among whom is the facilitator, a teacher at Nsingweni Primary School. The inquiry occurred through fieldwork involving interviews, observation and photography. Data analysis followed an inductive process that builds concepts. Formed in 1990, the group saw dramatic economic gain in the 1990's through a gardening project supported by Yonge Nawe environmental action group and the facilitator. At the beginning of the new millennium the participants' intrinsic abilities to sustain the group were put to test. Challenges emerged that reduced the enthusiasm of some group members such that the study found the group at the edge of collapse. This report concludes with recommendations on ways to sustain community programmes. / Educational Studies / Thesis (M. Ed. (Environmental Education))

African leafy vegetables have been shown and suggested to have potential to contribute to human diets and alleviate malnutrition; however, their levels of utilisation are currently low especially in South Africa. This is because there is limited access to these crops due to low availability in the market. Limited access is attributed, in part, to the lack of commercialisation as a result of limited agronomic information describing optimum management options for these leafy vegetables. Availability of such information would contribute to successful commercialisation of these crops. The primary objective of this study was to establish optimum agronomic management factors for Amaranthus cruentus, Corchorus olitorius, Vigna unguiculata and Brassica juncea for irrigated commercial production in South Africa. Seeds of Amaranthus cruentus, Corchorus olitorius were obtained from the Agricultural Research Council seed bank; Vigna unguiculata were obtained from Hydrotech and Brassica juncea seeds were obtained from Stark Ayres. The project consisted of three field studies whose overall objective was to evaluate growth and yield responses of the selected African leafy vegetables to agronomic factors under irrigated commercial production. These field studies comprised of two single factors; summer trials (planting density and nitrogen on three selected crops) and a combined winter trial (nitrogen, irrigation, plant density and planting date on a winter crop). Chapter three (3) investigated the effect of plant density on growth, physiology and yield responses of Amaranthus cruentus, Corchorus olitorius and Vigna unguiculata to three plant densities under drip irrigated commercial production. The plant density levels of 100 000, 66 666 and 50 000 plants/ha were used in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 summer seasons. Parameters measured included chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), stomatal conductance (SC), leaf number, leaf area index (LAI) and biomass. Amaranthus cruentus and Corchorus olitorius showed better leaf quality at lower plant density of 50 000 plants ha-1 than at 66 666 plants ha-1 and 100 000 plants ha-1. These results are based on bigger leaves expressed as leaf area index (LAI), better colour expressed as chlorophyll (CCI) and higher biomass per plant observed in these crops at 50 000 plants ha-1 in comparison to 66 666 plants ha-1 and 100 000 plants ha-1. In Vigna unguiculata there were no responses observed in LAI and CCI. In Amaranthus cruentus, Corchorus olitorius and Vigna unguiculata fresh and dry mass yield of leaves were higher at 100 000 plants ha-1 compared to other treatments. In A. cruentus and C. olitorius, higher leaf quality parameters (CCI, plant height, leaf number, biomass per plant and LAI) indicated that these crops can perform better at lower densities of 50 000 than at 66 666 plants ha-1 and 100 000 plants ha-1 Therefore, using 50 000 plants ha- 1 is suitable for commercial production of A. cruentus and C. olitorius. In Vigna unguiculata, a plant density of 100 000 plants ha-1 produced the highest fresh and dry mass per unit area without compromising quality in terms of the leaf size (LAI) and colour (CCI). Therefore 100 000 plants ha-1 is a density recommended for commercial production in V. unguiculata.Chapter four (4) was conducted to investigate growth, physiology and yield responses of A. cruentus, C. olitorius and V unguiculata to nitrogen application under drip irrigated commercial production. Three nitrogen treatments levels were used viz. 0, 44 and 88 kg N ha- 1 in 2011/12 season and four nitrogen treatments levels viz. 0, 50, 100 and 125 kg N ha-1 were used in 2012/13 summer season. The nitrogen levels selected for each season were based on recommendations for Amaranthaceae species, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.var cicla) derived from soil analysis of the trial (field) site. Parameters measured included chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), stomatal conductance (SC), leaf number, leaf area index (LAI) and biomass. Results showed that application of nitrogen at 44 kg N ha- 1 in 2011/12 summer season and 100 kg N ha-1 in 2012/13 summer season improved LAI, CCI, biomass per plants and yield in A. cruentus. A similar trend was observed in C. olitorius except that 44 kg N ha-1 improved stem fresh yield. Further increase in nitrogen fertiliser above 44 kg N ha-1 during the 2011/12 season and above 100 kg N ha-1 in 2012/13 summer season reduced leaf quality and yield in both crops. In V. unguiculata, nitrogen application showed a slight increase in yield values from 0 to 44 kg N ha-1 followed by decrease at 88 kg N ha-1 in 2011/12 summer season; however, this increase in yield was not significant. During the 2012/13 summer season, yield in terms of fresh weight was significantly (P<.001) reduced by applying nitrogen at various levels. However, leaf dry matter content increased significantly (P<.001) with increase in nitrogen from 0 kg up to 100 kg N ha-1, then remained unchanged at 125 kg N ha-1. Therefore, the current study recommends that C. olitorius and A. cruentus could be commercialised at 44 kg N ha-1 and 100 kg N ha-1 which were lower nitrogen application rates than those recommended for Amaranthaceae species. In V. unguiculata, 50 kg N ha-1 improved leaf number; however, this did not translate to any fresh yield advantage, implying that the optimum rate for nitrogen application might be lower than 50 kg N ha-1. Therefore, nitrogen rates less than the ones used in the current study are recommended for V. unguiculata. Chapter five (5) was conducted in winter and it was necessitated by observations made primarily in the previous studies which focused on the effects of single factors such as plant density, planting date and nitrogen deficits. Therefore, there was a need to address interactions between irrigation, nitrogen, spacing and planting date. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth, physiology and yield responses of Brassica juncea to different agronomic and management factors in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The treatments were as follows: two planting dates in main plot (1 June and 18 July, 2012); two irrigation frequency in sub main plot (once and three times a week); three nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100 kg N ha-1) and three plant densities (133 333, 80 000, 50 000 plants ha-1) as subplots. Parameters measured included chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), stomatal conductance (SC), leaf number, leaf area index (LAI) and biomass. Results from this study showed a significant interaction effect on plant height, LAI, CCI and CF. Crops irrigated thrice or once a week with 50 kg N ha-1 combined with 50 000 plants ha-1 produced tall plants and bigger leaves (LAI) in the early planting date (1 June) compared to other combinations. Irrigating three times a week combined with nitrogen application at 100 or 50 kg N ha-1 improved CF for late planting date (18 July) in comparison to other combinations. Irrigating once a week combined with nitrogen application at 100 kg N ha-1 increased CCI. There was no significant interaction effect on yield. Application of nitrogen at 50 and 100 kg N ha-1 significantly (P>0.05) increased yield in early and late planting dates compared to the control (0 kg N ha-1), in 2012 and 2013 winter season. Irrigating three times a week led to a significant (P<0.05) increase in yield in the late planting date (18th July) and early planting date (1st June) in 2013 season. Higher plant density of 133 333 plants ha-1 resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher yield in terms of fresh mass and leaf number in the late planting date 18 July in 2012 and 2013 seasons. However, leaf quality parameters such as leaf size and colour was compromised at 133 333 plants ha-1 relative to 50 000 plants ha-1. Therefore, farmers are recommended to plant early, apply 50 kg N ha-1, irrigate thrice a week and utilise a spacing of 50 000 plants ha-1. The current study indicates that growth and yield of traditional leaf vegetables can be optimised through improved agronomic practise. / Agriculture and Life Sciences / D. Litt. et. Phil. (Agriculture)