Student Number : 0413841X - MA research report - School of Social Sciences - Faculty of Humanities / People living and working on commercial farms in South Africa are the poorest and most vulnerable group in the labour market. They rely on multiple livelihood strategies to alleviate risk and to survive. Wages from their employment in agriculture usually constitute their primary source of income and therefore play an important part in their livelihood strategy, as does their dependence on the farmer for housing, food, credit and access to services. The livelihood strategies of these poor people have been disturbed by the introduction of the Sectoral Determination for the Agricultural Sector, which prescribes a minimum wage for farm workers. It is especially the most vulnerable workers who are hit by the farmers’ reluctance to grant them the same benefits as they received before. The law thus only succeeds in supporting those workers who are better educated, healthy and able to manage the higher amount of cash wage in a responsible way. It is necessary to protect those who are made worse off through the legislation by a comprehensive rural development strategy. Such a development strategy must target those factors keeping the poorest farm workers vulnerable and struggling for survival.

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The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a transnational labour agreement between Canada, Mexico, and various Caribbean countries that brings thousands of Jamaican migrant workers to Canada each year to work on farms. This thesis explores Jamaican SAWP workers’ experiences of stress in Ontario, and situates these experiences within a system of power and international inequality. When describing their experiences of stress and suffering in Ontario, many Jamaican workers drew analogies between historic and modern slavery under the SAWP. However, stress discourses also inspired workers to emphasise their resilience, and many workers gave equal attention to explaining their inherent strength as “Jamaicans”, which they associate with national independence and the history of slavery. In this way, I suggest stress discourses are sites of flexibility and resilience for Jamaican workers, and this thesis presents the foremost cultural, political, and historical factors that support Jamaican workers’ resilience in Ontario. Moreover, the predominant coping strategies workers employ in Ontario will be explored within the context of their restricted agency under the SAWP. This thesis concludes with a discussion of stress as an expression of subjectivity that is characterised by strength, faith, and the history of slavery. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

<p> This thesis provides a means of measuring the type and number of livestock on a given farm in southern Ontario using as a data base aerial photographs of medium scale. The feasibility of making such measurements is shown to be an extension of past work in the field of agricultural air photo interpretation. The methodology is presented in the form of a model. The inputs from aerial photographs are crop acreages, building type and dimensions, and silo sizes. Average yields in each study area, in combination with crop acreage gives feed available. A comparison is made between feed weight and housing space available and required feed weights and stabling facilities (taken as constants in southern Ontario) to support cattle of a given type. This comparison technique, within the model, yields an output of farm type and actual numbers of cattle. The accuracy of prediction so obtained is high and is independent of the location or attributes of the widely spaced sample areas.</p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

What is the experience like for individuals residing in a community solely composed of gas stations and corner stores? How does the constant presence of these establishments, which primarily offer packaged and unhealthy food options, affect the health of the residents? Food deserts are typically defined as urban areas where it is challenging to access affordable and high-quality fresh food. According to the USDA, a food desert is an area where 100 households are located more than half a mile away from a supermarket. In 2010, approximately 19 million people lived in areas with limited supermarket access. While these statistics provide insight into the impact of food deserts, they fail to convey the personal experiences of those affected. In the wake of the pandemic, Washington DC ranks second in the country for food insecurity, with over 75% of food deserts located in Wards 7 and 8. This thesis explores the pressing need for healthier food options in urban environments and proposes the development of a farm-to-table community in Marshall Heights, a vibrant neighborhood in Washington DC's Ward 7. By incorporating livestock and public garden spaces, this community aims to provide its residents with access to fresh, nutritious food while fostering a deeper connection to the natural world. The design choices implemented in this community will enable individuals to witness the growth of their food and participate in its preparation, thereby promoting healthier lifestyles and sustainable practices within an urban setting. Through a multidisciplinary approach that considers the historical, cultural, and environmental aspects of Marshall Heights, this thesis offers a blueprint for an alternative way of life that prioritizes health and well-being. / Master of Architecture / This thesis explores the pressing need for healthier food options in urban environments and proposes the development of a farm-to-table community in Marshall Heights, a vibrant neighborhood in Washington DC's Ward 7. By incorporating livestock and public garden spaces, this community aims to provide its residents with access to fresh, nutritious food while fostering a deeper connection to the natural world. The design choices implemented in this community will enable individuals to witness the growth of their food and participate in its preparation, thereby promoting healthier lifestyles and sustainable practices within an urban setting. Through a multidisciplinary approach that considers the historical, cultural, and environmental aspects of Marshall Heights, this thesis offers a blueprint for an alternative way of life that prioritizes health and well-being.

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