Gardening Practices Research Articles

Contribution of Home Gardening to the Welfare of Rural Households in Osun State Nigeria

Purpose: This study describes the socio-economic characteristics of rural households, identifies the agricultural activities practiced in the home gardens, examines the respondents’ perception of home gardening, determines the contribution of home gardening to the households’ welfare, and investigates constraints to the practice of home gardening in the studied area.Research Method: A sample of 150 rural households from three Agricultural zones (Osogbo, Ife-Ijesha, and Iwo) was selected using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected through a structural interview schedule comprising both open and close-ended questions and the data were summarized using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; along with inferential statistics like Chi-Square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation.Findings: The result revealed that the mean age of household heads was 45.09±15.08 years. Additionally, the majority had received their first experience of home gardening in childhood (71.2%) and expressed willingness to continue home gardening practice (92.4%). Furthermore, they engaged in plantain cultivation (x = 2.50) always and fowl rearing (x = 2.16) often in their home gardens, among other activities. The majority (90.7%) was favourably disposed to home gardening and indicated a high contribution (86.4%) of home gardening to their households’ welfare. In addition, pilfering (x = 1.51) was identified as a serious constraint to the practice of home gardening.Research Limitation: The economic importance and marketing aspect of home gardening are not covered due to limited resources.Originality/ Value: The study provides insight into how home gardening could be incorporated into the extension activities of relevant organizations to enhance the full exploitation of the potentials inherent in the practice.

Enumeration and Categorization of the Indoor Plant of Bharatpur Metropolitan City

This study investigates indoor gardening practices in Bharatpur, Nepal. A combination of vision observations, online questionnaires, and a random selection of plant species were used to collect data. 41 respondents to the survey revealed a variety of indoor plants: 39% have less than five plants, 24.4% own ten or more, 19.5% own more than ten, and 17.1% own more than twenty. While 34.1% water their plants weekly, most participants (48.8%) water twice a week. Fertilizer is applied less regularly, with most people using it twice yearly (43.9%). Though gardeners face challenges such as dryness (41.5%) and insect infections (29.3%), indoor plants are recognized for their good energy (34.1%) and air purifying features (26.8%). Significant choices are available for specific plants, with the Epipremnum aureum coming in second at 31.7%, and the Dracaena trifasciata at 46.3% being the most popular. With a few of those received as gifts or online, nurseries consider 68.3% of plant purchases. The study identifies important plant families: Arecaceae, Asparagaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, and Euphorbiaceae each have two to six species, while Araceae is the family with the greatest number with eleven. Just 1-2 species represent some families, such as Apocynaceae and Piperaceae.

The influence of Zen Buddhism and ink wash painting on Japanese gardens during the medieval Japan

ABSTRACT This paper explores the impact of Chinese landscape painting on the evolution of Japanese gardening styles, which is seldom mentioned in the development of ancient Japanese gardening. China and Japan have had a cultural exchange dating back to around 600 AD. The development of Zen Buddhism in China, accompanied by the emergence of landscape painting, played a crucial role in the perfect combination of philosophy and aesthetics that characterizes Chinese landscape painting. With the introduction and prevalence of Chinese Zen thought and landscape painting, Japanese classical gardening practices underwent significant transformation. The introduction of Zen Buddhism facilitated the formation and development of traditional Japanese gardens, while gardens became an integral part of Zen culture. Japanese gardens evolved from the Pure Land gardens of the Heian period to the Zen-style pond gardens of the Kamakura period, culminating in the mature form of dry landscape gardens under the influence of Zen thought. Against the backdrop of Zen monks gradually taking the initiative in garden making, Japanese garden forms were imbued with a distinct landscape painting character.

THE DIVERSITY OF CULTIVATED PLANTS IN THE GARDENS FROM EZERETS, BULGARIA

This paper explores plant diversity in home gardens from Ezerets, Bulgaria, with a focus on species richness and their ornamental and food uses. A total of 189 taxa, distributed across 70 botanical families, were identified in various types of gardens. Most plants (129 taxa, 68.25%) are used for ornamental purposes, while 40 taxa (21.16%) have both ornamental and edible uses, and 20 taxa are grown solely for food. The study highlights the role of home gardens in preserving biodiversity and maintaining traditional practices. Ezerets' proximity to Romania also offers a foundation for comparing local gardening practices with those in nearby Romanian regions.

Barriers to access to local produce in an early childhood setting in rural Appalachia

This case study examines young children’s access to fresh local produce in childcare settings in rural Appalachia. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with childcare center directors participating in farm to early care and education programming were conducted in the spring of 2023. Centering the per­spective of childcare directors, this research explores why farm to school programming is diffi­cult to implement. It specifically addresses the bar­riers preventing early childcare centers from pro­viding access to fresh and local produce to enrolled children. Eight primary obstacles to implementing farm to early care and education programming were identified: lack of staff; too wide a variety of tasks for directors; the “extra” work that fresh pro­duce requires; lack of knowledge about how to grow food; lack of required kitchen equipment; need for additional funding; unclear or out-of-date regulations about food safety; and a lack of paren­tal time. Limitations of the research include the specific geographic location of the study and the long-lasting implications of the COVID-19 pan­demic. Recommendations drawn from this case study include improving communication between childcare centers and regulatory agencies; creative use of alternative gardening practices; participating in a regional food hub; and improved funding.

Incidence of agroecological-based practices in urban vegetable gardens: effect on crop diversity and production levels

ABSTRACT Agroecological-based practices (ABPs) play a vital role in urban vegetable gardens, enhancing the quality of life. However, factors driving ABP implementation and their impact on crop production and diversity are not fully understood. Our study assessed the influence of socio-economic and environmental characteristics on ABP adoption, crop diversity, and total weight vegetable production in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. Through interviews and a multi-model inference approach, we found that ABP implementation is tied to gardener experience and formative assets (e.g. horticultural experience, specific training). Crop diversity, integral to ABP, is affected by farming practices and farmer characteristics (Farm animals, Pollinator-friendly practices, Experience, Additional training and Environmental knowledge). The Total weight produced was primarily influenced by the type of garden, the gardener’s experience and some ABPs. Long-standing commercial and community objectives and the use of farm animals and commercial seed led to greater production. Strengthening key drivers, such as farmer training, through public policies (e.g. income generation, financing, specific training, land access) can bolster the role of urban gardens in providing a healthy environment and promoting food sovereignty.

Complex factors combinations driving tea growers to adopt ecological agricultural practices in tea gardens

IntroductionThe implementation of ecological agriculture practices in Chinese tea gardens plays a vital role in mitigating N2O emissions and addressing environmental degradation. Nevertheless, a dearth of discourse exists regarding the intricacies surrounding farmers' adoption of tea garden ecological agriculture practices (TGEAP), particularly the complex interplay between adoption factors and outcomes.MethodsUsing data of 310 farmers, this study employed complexity theories and Stimulus-Organism-Response theories, and integrated Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to explore the complex relationships between farmer characteristics, internal and external factors, and adoption of farmer.ResultsThe results show three influential paths in the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, and environmental protection attitude (EPA) and production expectation (PE) act as intermediaries. Notably, EPA exhibits a masking effect in one pathway. These paths linked closely to three farmer characteristics. Beyond the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, nine combinations lead to farmers' adoption, and four to non-adoption.DiscussionWe discover scenarios where opposing environmental states or age lead to adoption, explaining the masking effect. These combinations highlight how a favorable environment influences both adoption and non-adoption. We also discuss other combinations that lead to adoption or non-adoption. The study suggests that governments employ targeted incentives to facilitate tea farmers' transition in agriculture.

Optimizing water usage through an automatic garden sprinkler system: Enhancing efficiency and sustainability in gardening

This study investigates the design and operation of an automatic garden sprinkler system, focusing on the need for a dependable, self-operating watering solution that conserves water and supports night-time watering schedules. The research method included a detailed evaluation of the system's performance over 30 days, analyzing data on timing accuracy, water distribution efficiency, and user feedback. The results show that the system works accurately, starting watering cycles within minutes of the set time and efficiently distributing water evenly across the garden. The findings suggest the system can help reduce water waste, supporting global sustainability goals. Additionally, its flexibility and ease of use suggest it could be popular with gardeners and widely adopted. This research adds to the conversation on sustainable gardening and provides insights into using advanced technology in traditional gardening practices.

Health clinic gardens as models for social-ecological systems: Floristic composition and potential utilization of plants in the Bojanala Platinum District North-West Province, South Africa

Health clinic gardens (HCGs) are social-ecological systems (SESs) associated with health clinics on government land and are intended to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to patients struggling to keep healthy immune systems. Little is known about their comparability to other garden types with regards to plant distribution and potential utilization, and thus their potential to address some of the challenges limiting ecosystem services (ESs) provision in other garden types. In this study, we report on the floristic composition and presence of utilitarian plant species at 105 HCGs across a district municipality in the North-West Province, South Africa. Different micro-gardens, including vegetable, medicinal, ornamental, natural vegetation, bare soil, orchard, hedge, and lawn micro-gardens, were identified. To understand plant composition, species were classified according to status of origin, invasive characteristics, Raunkiaer’s life-forms, growth forms, and potential usefulness. To determine the frequency of species occurrence we enumerated the number of gardens containing the respective species. Six-hundred and thirty-three species from 404 genera and 116 plant families were encountered. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy, found in 91 % and 79 % of gardens, respectively, occurred the most. Herbaceous species were the most dominant, with Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Kuntze ex Thell. and Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist occurring the most. Plant species richness was greater in the ornamental (282 species) and natural area (naga) (281 species) micro-gardens, while the hedge had the least (8 species). Fifty-five percent of species in the natural vegetation micro-garden were indigenous, compared to 44 % in the ornamental micro-garden. There was greater diversity in fruit-bearing plants, and most medicinal plant species (70 %) are used as a tonic. Health clinic gardens resemble home gardens and are well positioned to enhance ESs provision at the community scale. Future HCGs research should evaluate community usage of the gardens and the extent to which knowledge of useful plants and efficient gardening practices is upscaled to home gardens around HCGs.

Unveiling quiet activism: Urban community gardens as agents of food sovereignty

AbstractUrban community gardening is emerging as a form of quiet activism challenging the corporate food system. In urban community gardening, quiet activism subtly challenges the dominant corporate food system. However, research tends to overlook its presence and impact in global South cities, where issues of food insecurity and corporatisation are acute. There is a gap in research on urban community gardening activism, with a focus mainly on global North cities. Global South cities and populations face unique challenges in the corporate food system that require attention and exploration in scholarly literature. We draw on qualitative research conducted with urban community gardeners in Cape Town, South Africa. Through interviews and observations, the study investigates how these gardeners engage in quiet activism to challenge the corporate food system. We find that community gardens are subtle but potent platforms for bolstering local food movements and fostering healthier dietary practices by cultivating and sharing produce. Quiet activism through community gardening offers a nuanced approach to challenging the corporate food system. The study highlights the need to recognise and understand varying levels of activism intensity and their implications for reshaping urban food systems. We underscore the need to discern the distinct embodiments necessitated by different modes of activism. Understanding these different modes of activism is crucial for comprehending their varying impacts on challenging and reshaping the corporate food system. This nuanced approach reveals the transformative potential inherent in community gardening practices. Community gardening in Cape Town exemplifies the transformative potential of understated acts in food activism.

TRACING THE ETHEREAL: EXPLORING AESTHETIC HERITAGE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY IN HISTORIC GARDENS - A CASE STUDY OF SHALIMAR GARDEN

Mughal gardens are a prominent figure in the history of landscape architecture, serving as a symbol of artistic talent and horticultural genius. The Mughal gardens thrived throughout the Mughal Empire's rule in South Asia, and this dissertation investigates the profound philosophy that underpinned its design planting methods. The study explores the sociocultural factors that influenced Mughal gardening practices within the historical framework of that period. This study makes use of both primary and secondary sources to illuminate the main components of Mughal Garden design, including the widespread use of geometric patterns, water features, and the blending of architecture and landscape. A strong link between the gardens and the Mughal worldview is shown when the research additionally looks at the spiritual and metaphorical meanings connected to the fauna and plants selected for these gardens. Additionally, the study focuses on the cultivation practices used by Mughal horticulturists, showcasing their creative approaches to attaining a harmonic fusion of form and function. Mughal gardens are renowned for their overall visual effect, mostly due to the careful selection and placement of their flora. This dissertation tries to uncover the underlying plantation philosophy of Mughal gardens through a thorough investigation of historical records and garden ruins, highlighting the complex interactions between art, culture, and environment throughout this era. Modern landscape designers and hobbyists may take inspiration from the Mughal approach to horticulture and apply its timeless wisdom to contemporary gardening techniques by comprehending the fundamental ideas that guided the building of these gardens.

On the irrelevance of (peat-free) substrates - Qualitative insights into the social practices of hobby gardeners in Germany

Reducing peat consumption in hobby gardening offers considerable potential for reducing CO2 emissions, since peatlands are one of the most important natural carbon sinks. While existing research focuses on the products and their diffusion, we focus on people and their practices of gardening. So we conducted 44 interviews with hobby gardeners in Germany from three different contexts: gardening at home, in an allotment garden, and in an urban gardening initiative. Our findings show that substrates are not a major part of gardeners' social interactions. Purchasing substrates is a utility-driven process with, compared to gardening itself, mostly passive information behavior. Although (basic) knowledge about peat is widespread among hobby gardeners, price is the dominant purchase criterion for substrates; sustainability does not play an important role. Our results suggest that communication campaigns by governments and companies should convey substrate-related messages in those places where gardeners go to seek information, e.g. gardening-related publications. Communication should focus on the functional value of peat-free substrates and not just explain environmental benefits. Lastly, campaigns should target home gardeners rather than urban gardeners and allotment gardeners who rarely buy any substrates but rely on their own production.

Sustainable Urban Agriculture: Unlocking the Potential of Home Gardens in Low-Income Communities

Urban agriculture has gained prominence in enhancing food security and sustainability in cities globally. This research explores the dynamics of urban agriculture (UA), focusing specifically on home gardens, which are often overlooked despite their potential to contribute to sustainability in urban environments. UA involves the cultivation of crops and agricultural products within urban and periurban areas, ranging from small-scale gardens to larger individual urban farms. Its benefits span environmental, social, and economic dimensions. This research addresses a notable gap in the existing literature by highlighting the importance of sustainable practices within home gardens, particularly in low-income communities. By examining the role of civil society actors and innovative approaches employed by home gardeners, this study aims to inspire and provide insights to promote sustainable UA, even within constrained urban spaces. The significance of sustainable practices in home gardens is underscored by their potential to improve local food nutrition, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental impact of food transportation.

Bridging biodiversity and gardening: Unravelling the interplay of socio-demographic factors, garden practices, and garden characteristics

The expansion of urban areas threatens biodiversity and disrupts ecological relationships, thereby impeding key ecosystem services. To avert irreversible consequences, there is a focus on improving the biodiversity value of domestic gardens. We employ machine learning and network analysis and examine gardening practices and garden owners’ environmental consciousness in Hungary through a questionnaire-based study to untangle the interplay among socio-demographic factors, garden management and -characteristics. We found that the activities determined as biodiversity-positive were widespread among respondents, but ubiquitous pesticide use (62.14%), lack of undisturbed areas (49.52%), and frequent mowing (32.06%) were also present. Middle-aged respondents demonstrated more biodiversity-supporting activities than those over 55, who had long-term gardening experience and were predominantly conventional gardeners. Respondents of towns showed the least biodiversity-positive activities, whereas those living in cities and the countryside fared better. Additionally, multiple interconnected garden characteristics revealed various types of gardens distinguished by care practices and use, such as gardens for food self-provisioning, ornamental gardens, or those prioritizing biodiversity support. Our results show that garden owners use pesticides independently of socio-demographic parameters, gardening practices, or garden characteristics, suggesting widespread pesticide use in Hungary. Our findings suggest that strategies to promote biodiversity-friendly gardening may not be equally suitable for all gardener owners with different cultural backgrounds, environmental consciousness and gardening habits. Factors like differences between societal groups underscore the preference for in-person programs over online information transfer in several cases, for instance, among the elderly and those living in the countryside. We offer fresh perspectives on the intricate connections between garden diversity, characteristics, and practices, and it lays the groundwork for future research into the sociological drivers of gardening practices in Eastern Europe. Our work emphasises that optimizing gardens for multiple ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation and enhancing human well-being, requires a nuanced understanding of both ecological and socio-demographic factors.

Kitchen Gardening: A Dual Solution for Urban Heat Islands and Nutritional Security in India

Urbanization has led to significant environmental and societal challenges, including the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and nutritional insecurity. Kitchen gardening, also known as urban horticulture, emerges as a promising solution to these pressing issues. By cultivating food in urban settings, individuals and families contribute to a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem. The practice of kitchen gardening plays a pivotal role in managing the UHI effect. Vegetation in urban areas helps moderate temperature extremes, reducing the heat retained by concrete and asphalt. This cooling effect contributes to lower energy consumption for air conditioning, mitigating urban pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the proximity of urban gardens to residential areas decreases the need for transportation of produce, further cutting down on pollution and energy usage associated with food distribution. From a nutritional standpoint, kitchen gardening ensures food security by providing a direct source of fresh, healthy produce. This practice aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including zero hunger (SDG2), good health and well-being (SDG3), and responsible consumption and production (SDG12). Urban horticulture empowers individuals to take control of their food sources, promoting a balanced diet and reducing dependence on industrial-scale farming. Furthermore, it creates opportunities for community engagement and economic growth, supporting decent work and economic growth (SDG8) and sustainable cities and communities (SDG11). Kitchen gardening is a multifaceted approach that addresses both environmental and nutritional challenges. Its benefits extend beyond individual households, contributing to broader sustainability goals and fostering a more harmonious relationship between urban development and the environment.

Connecting people with place-specific nature in cities reduces unintentional harm

There is an increasing disconnect between people and nature as we become more urbanised. Intensification in cities often results in a reduction of natural areas, more homogenised and manicured green spaces, and loss of biota. Compared to people in rural areas, urban dwellers are less likely visit natural areas and recognise and value biota. Reconnecting people with nature in the city not only benefits human mental and physical wellbeing but can also have positive effects on how people value biodiversity and act on conservation issues. However, in some contexts, the push to reconnect people with nature may have unintended negative outcomes on biodiversity, particularly if place-specific nature is not used in urban greening. In the current biodiversity crisis, using vegetation and green space design that is not reflective of the environmental context of a city can further disconnect residents, particularly Indigenous people, from their local environment and species, and further entrench extinction of experience and loss of environmental values. This disconnect can result in residents applying wildlife gardening practices, such as bird feeding, that are not specific to place, and benefit introduced species over indigenous species. Furthermore, cities are gateways for invasive species, and using species in greening projects that are not locally sourced has already left cities and their surrounding regions with a large weed legacy. Using place-specific nature and green space in cities can be less resource intensive, highly beneficial for biodiversity and give residents a unique sense of place. Rather than simply adding ‘more nature’ in cities, the messaging should be more complex, emphasising the need for urban greening to be context specific to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity and ecological and cultural services.

Blooms & Bytes Nurturing Garden with Smart Irrigation – Planning

Blooms and Bytes: Nurturing Garden with Smart Irrigation proposes a cutting-edge solution to address the challenges of water scarcity and inefficient irrigation practices in gardens. The project integrates advanced technology to automate and optimize watering processes, ensuring sustainable plant growth while conserving water resources. Through the implementation of hardware components such as solenoid valves, water filters, and pressure pumps, coupled with automation facilitated by microcontrollers and real-time clock modules, the system offers precise control over irrigation schedules. Additionally, a cloud monitoring system enables remote management and monitoring of the garden layout. The project outlines a comprehensive implementation plan, market research insights, and budget considerations, emphasizing the benefits of water conservation, environmental sustainability, and time efficiency. Collaboration with NGOs and funding agencies is sought to support the project's implementation. Overall, the proposed smart irrigation system presents a promising solution to promote eco-friendly gardening practices and contribute to sustainable development goals. Keywords: Water conservation, Automation, Sustainable Technology, Smart irrigation

Use of wildlife-friendly structures in residential gardens by animal wildlife: evidence from citizen scientists in a global biodiversity hotspot

Private gardens comprise a large component of greenspace in cities and can offer substantial conservation opportunities. There has been strong advocacy from researchers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners to engage householders in wildlife-friendly gardening practices to increase the quantity, quality and connection of habitat resources for urban wildlife. Despite this call to action, there remains limited knowledge on the use and benefit of some wildlife-friendly structures within gardens, such as artificial refuges and water sources. In collaboration with 131 citizen scientists in southwestern Australia, we examined the use of seven wildlife-friendly structure types by four vertebrate taxa groups. Following 2841 wildlife surveys undertaken between 31 July 2022 and 22 February 2023, we found that all structures were used primarily by target taxa, water sources were often used by relatively common species, certain structures such as possum shelters were used by rare and threatened species (e.g. western ringtail possum), and that there was evidence of animals making use of the wildlife-friendly structures for reproduction (e.g. bird eggs in nest boxes and tadpoles in water sources). Water sources were used more frequently and by a greater diversity of wildlife than artificial refuges. In particular, bird baths were used by the highest number of species (mainly birds) while ponds were used by the greatest variety of taxa (birds, reptiles, frogs, mammals). Our findings provide evidence-based support for the advocacy of wildlife-friendly gardening practices and further highlight the role of residential gardens for biodiversity conservation.

Wildlife-friendly garden practices increase butterfly abundance and species richness in urban and arable landscapes

Insect declines are being reported worldwide and private, residential gardens could provide refugia for these species under increasing land use change. Interest in wildlife-friendly gardening has increased, but many management recommendations lack a scientific evidence-base. We used a large citizen science scheme, the Garden Butterfly Survey (GBS), with data from over 600 gardens across Great Britain (2016–2021) to determine how the surrounding landscape influences the abundance and species richness of butterflies in gardens and whether wildlife-friendly gardening practices, such as having long grass and providing nectar plants, benefit butterflies. First, we show that GBS provides reliable estimates of species abundances by comparing with results from standardised, long-term monitoring data. Garden size and surrounding land use had significant effects on butterfly abundance and richness in gardens, including positive relationships with garden size, woodland and arable farmland and negative relationships with urbanisation. Both the presence and area of long grass in gardens were positively related to higher butterfly richness and abundance, with the latter being driven by butterflies that use grasses as larval host plants. These effects differed depending on the surrounding landscape, such that long grass resulted in higher garden butterfly abundance in landscapes dominated by arable farming, and higher abundance and richness in highly urbanised areas. The presence of flowering ivy (Hedera spp.) in gardens resulted in higher abundance of Celastrina argiolus holly blue which uses ivy as a larval host, and of Vanessa atalanta red admiral and Polygonia c-album comma, which favour it as a nectar source. Our work provides evidence that undertaking simple wildlife-friendly garden practices can be beneficial for attracting butterflies, particularly in heavily modified areas. With over 728,000 ha of gardens in Great Britain, the cumulative effect of leaving areas of lawn uncut and providing nectar and larval host plants could be key for helping biodiversity.

Yield performance of virus free sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is the dominant staple food crop in the Highlands Provinces in Papua New Guinea (PNG), but productivity is constrained by pests and diseases including viral pathogens. Meristem-tip culture and thermotherapy can be used to eliminate viral pathogens in planting material, overcoming productivity constraints caused by viral infections. In this study, the performance of four PNG sweetpotato cultivars grown from virus-cleaned or farmer-sourced planting material were assessed at four production locations in PNG Highlands Provinces. Total root yields were significantly increased in three of the four cultivars by using virus-cleaned material, with root number and root weight increasing as well as root quality. A weak interaction between the origin region of a cultivar and trial site location was observed, suggesting that response to virus-cleaning may be lower when cultivars selected for tolerance to pathogens in a production region are grown in the same region after virus-cleaning. The results demonstrated that under traditional production practices in gardens frequently used for sweetpotato production, the use of virus-cleaned planting material is a viable practice for farmers aiming to transition from subsistence production to commercial production.