...Ceres Gardening Company Case Study 1. How has the company grown? What is its basic strategy + how has it evolved? What have been the key factors in the company's growth? The growth of the company has been fueled by the market demand growth in organic products. Ceres increased their revenues by over 75% in just five years, while growing profits by over 25% (based on Exhibits 2, 3 & 4). Ceres’s basic strategy started with its founder, Jonathan Wydown, to promote sustainable organic gardens and landscapes to environmentally conscious consumers. Mr. Wydown has been a proponent of soil preservation, biodiversity, and natural fertilizers and pest control. Mr. Wydown was confident that the same principles behind organic farming would eventually apply to home gardens and lawns. Mr. Wydown’ s vision evolved into the creation and development of a market niche of selected certified organic seeds and seedlings for vegetables, culinary herbs, and flowers – bringing the farm to the home per se. This market niche and products became the company’s differentiator and competitive edge. The key factors that drove the company’s growth are: * Market demand and segmentation – Ceres developed a market niche for organic-conscious consumers who are concerned about the environment. Although products are priced at a higher premium, the value from the company’s environmentally conscious go-to-market strategy and segmentation allowed Ceres to develop a loyal consumer community....
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...Should Pluto be a Planet? In 1930 Clyde W. Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona discovered the planet Pluto. After serving 76 long years as the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto was controversially demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006. This has raised many debates on whether Pluto was categorized unfairly or not. Astronomers from both sides of the debate have legitimite arguments making it tough to decide whether Pluto should be classified as a planet or a dwarf planet. Pluto’s title as a planet was questioned when Mike Brown, Professor of Planetary Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology discovered an object in 2005 that was further out than the orbit of Pluto. The object was also 25% more massive than Pluto. This object was later named Eris. It is located along with Pluto in the Kuiper Belt. There are plenty of other mysterious objects located in the Kuiper Belt that are more or less the same size as Pluto and Eris. This troubled the International Astronomical Union because this meant that there are tens to hundreds of objects that could very soon be known as planets. There are approximately more than 1,000 objects composed of the same icy mixture located in the Kuiper Belt. Many astronomers, scientists, and the International Astronomical Union felt uncomfortable with the fact that there are hundreds of objects in our solar system that have a strong possibility of becoming planets. To avoid the feeling of skepticism the International...
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...Diana Robbins 05/01/2012 Abstract Proserpina was the Roman goddess of Springtime and the goddess of the Underworld. She was born to Ceres and Jupiter. Her plight is directly related to changing of the season. This is due to that abduction of the fair goddess by Pluto the good of the Underworld. Proserpina, the roman goddess associate with the seasons, is probably one of the more interesting stories in Roman mythology. Really you cannot say that any of them are not interesting, but I would have to say that I have taken quite a liking to her particular plight and how it relates the seasons of the earth. Born to the goddess Ceres and the god Jupiter, Proserpina found herself in a world for trouble at the hands of Pluto. The plot does indeed thicken as you find out there were other factors at play in the suffering of Proserpina. What god or goddess gave the order that sealed here fate? What forces were in play in this supernatural game of love and intrigue? Proserpina, or as she was sometimes known Proserpine or to the Greeks Persephone, was born to Ceres, the goddess of agriculture and Jupiter, the god of shy and thunder, two high standing deities. Ceres, also known as the Greek goddess Demeter, was the goddess of agriculture as I said, but also associated with grain crops, motherly love and fertility. Ceres was the only agriculture deity to be listed in the Di Consentes list of twelve deities thought to be greater than the rest. Jupiter, also known...
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...Social Responsibility Strategy for Ladybug Lawn Care LLC Ladybug Lawn Care is a small landscaping company located in Tucson, Arizona. The company is owned by David and Carol Smith; they employ 6 full time people and at least 4 part-time seasonal employees. David does the designing, Carol does the bookkeeping for the business, and they both work in the field with the employees. Ladybug Lawn Care not only maintains existing landscaping but remodels and designs new gardens for its customers. Because the company is located in Southeastern Arizona, they specialize in desert landscaping or Xeriscaping. They also provide their customers full service landscaping options including tropical, green lawns, ponds and fountains. They subcontract jobs beyond their scope such as pools, gazebos, patio, fencing, and gates, to businesses that have the same ethical and environmental beliefs. Environmental Considerations “The environmental dimension of corporate social responsibility refers to business’s impact on the environment. The goal, as a socially responsible company, is to engage in business practices that benefit the environment.” [ (Smith, 2012) ] The area in which the company is located is considered high desert; consequently the region is often in a state of drought. Ladybug owners and staff have made the effort to become knowledgeable in the use of Xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a term trademarked by the water department of Denver, Colorado (Denver Water). “Xeriscaping...
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...1) The first thing which Mr. Weed is forgetting is that every business involves some kind of risk. He has been taking all the precautions he can to protect his customers and community. Business cannot be held responsible for all other general things or natural accidents. Also, this division has been making as much profit as all other divisions combined. They can use a portion of this profit for some kind of pesticides awareness campaign to educate their customers before and after the treatment of lawn to protect them. Mr. Weed should also realize that he is helping the community by giving jobs to all those people who work for the division. Also, if people start doing all these things at home without proper training they might end up getting hurt, so Mr. Weed is just helping them by protecting them from getting hurt. 2) If Mr. Weed thinks that he is doing something wrong then he should definitely close the division because it’s just going to give him stress and tension. This might give him health related issues and nothing can be more important than one’s health. He might even have sleepless nights which might affect his other divisions in turn because he won’t be able to focus on his work. They might also have more court cases in the future which might cost them more than what their profit is so it’s better to close the division before it incurs a loss. It can also have a negative effect on the reputation for other divisions. To improve the overall company profits they can come...
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...It has been a trending ever since that in every town or village there must be a chieftain or representative. This representative would be the spokesperson for the villagers. He is in-charge to upkeep the peace and order of the village. He is the one responsible for the development and common good of the town. This is a practice in which everyone looks up to - someone that could be their voice. Homeowners' associations, or HOAs, are formal legal entities created to maintain common areas; they have the authority to enforce deed restrictions. ( By Judy Hedding. About.com Guide). What Ms. Hedding is trying to tell is that whatever these HOAs implement are the ideas that create a common good for the homeowners. But how important it is to have a HOA? Well, let’s try to think of a place where there are no rules or no restrictions that govern the people. This might be place where independence grow or practiced. It might be a place where laws of the neighboring city will be broken or might be an insult because they might see the practices uncivilized and misleading to their protected children. What is the effect of HOA's absence? Perhaps, there will be chaos and/or there will be a development of miscommunication. It might lead to disruption of every person's thinking. The development of a villager's childhood starts from his community. Thus, the upbringing of the...
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...The Calla Lily The calla lily has been a personal favorite of gardeners and florists for many years. Originally from Africa, the calla lily has endured many different name changes. Specifically, the flower draws its origins from the tropical area from South Africa to Malawi. In the United States, the calla lily is grown all over. However, the flower is grown as an annual up north because of the threat of frost. From a nomenclature perspective, the calla lily is a bit of a paradox as it is neither a calla nor a lily. Although grown for many generations prior, Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus took credit for the discovery and, incorrectly, classified the plant to be a calla lily; advances in botanical sciences would later create a more stringent requirement for the calla genus, which would, unfortunately, leave the calla lily behind. The calla lily is a member of the Zantedeschia genus, aptly named after famed botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. Eventually, the calla lily emigrated from southern Africa and made its way to Europe. The earliest report of a calla lily in Europe was a painting of the Royal Garden in Paris dated 1664. Whilst in Europe, the calla lily became somewhat of a fan favorite as it was very easy to grow and could be cultivated to bloom year round in Southern Europe. Additionally, the flower can survive a long time after being cut, providing for long-lasting arrangements. With the demise of monarchies across...
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...Roof Gardens: Advantages and Potential Problems By Johnny Johnson June 23, 2013 Roof gardens, which have been in existence for thousands of years, are growing more popular as people realize the significant benefits they offer. People living in urban areas, apartments, or residences with small gardening spaces, are no longer limited to the confines of their environment. Spaces that were sparse with greenery are now able to be converted into roof gardens that offer more than just a beautiful and relaxing environment. Energy Savings Because they use much less space than typical gardens, roof gardens not only offer privacy but also “absorb a lot of energy by being on top of a structure. They provide natural noise and thermal heat insulation, thereby cutting down on utility bills.” (Dickinson 2008) Additionally, roof gardens also provide habitats for wildlife. Thus, what was once deemed good for the eye is also now good for the environment. Feasibility of Converting Flat Roofed Buildings to Gardens There are many options for the placement of a roof garden including wood-frame structures. However, the primary guiding principal is that roof gardens should be built on structures that are strong enough to support them. “Roof gardens are more ideally suited to steel-frame and reinforced-concrete structures, on which strong support platforms can be provided as reasonable cost.” (Osmundson 1999, 14) Weaker structures or structures that require additional support be added, can be...
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...Running head: A LITERARY EXPLICATION ON THE POEM "A GIRL'S A Literary Explication on the Poem "A Girl's Garden" by Robert Frost Galen College of Nursing A Literary Explication on the Poem "A Girl's Garden" by Robert Frost Even people who are not a connoisseur of poetry are familiar with Robert Frost and his works. Even though he was a very complex man who kept to himself he excelled in poetry. He found success in poetry that few poets are able to achieve. He lived from 1874-1963. Living most of his life in the New England area, his poems reflects the New England life style and ways of thinking. The poem “A Girl’s Garden” was written in 1916 by Frost. (Meyer, 2008, pg. 1118-1136). The narrator in this poem is unknown. It is told in first person reflecting on a neighbor that tells the same story to all the new people that she meets. A sweet poem with many thoughts and values hid away in the stanza makes the reader reflect on their childhood and experiences of achieving independence. Although the little girl in the poem thought she was starting on an adventure that was fun and exciting, her father was truly teaching her a lesson of independence and hard work. As child, many children venture into doing large projects without thinking about all the hard work that is put into the end product. This is much like the young girl in the poem that decides that she wants to grow her own garden. Without batting an eye her father finds her a small piece of land to place...
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...care of a plant is a good example of that. Initially the social norms that judge whether a habit is good and bad is decided by society, and Durkheim showed how even when we think we are free from the control of society, we are still controlled by it. While people are controlled by society, plants are completely at the will of humans. Plants follow in the strife people faced during the Great Depression when some people were put in positions that make it hard to survive. Still much has changed since the Great Depression for both people and plants, as both societal pressures and technological advances has greatly changed our world. One example of this was the application of harmful pesticides like DDT which greatly harmed the environment. Gardening is a good habit, but it can also be the catalyst for much greater thought. ...
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...clutter weeds in yards, sidewalks, gardens, etc… The machine is popularly used in landscapes or private homes. There is a plenty of weed trimmers available in today’s marketplace. They vary greatly into different categories, including types, shapes, features, prices and more. This is the reason why finding the best weed trimmer is an essential task. It takes our honor to tell you efficient ways for buying a weed trimmer. Keep on reading and consider important factors that affect your buying decisions. Benefits of a weed trimmer An advanced weed trimmer has powerful strength in removing tough weeds. Most of weed trimmers nowadays are designed in such a modern way that brings the surprising comfort to users. If you find it hard to deal with gardening jobs, this machine is a right investment. It allows excellent cutting performance within quick time. Another big plus of the trimmer is that it offers a variety of types, prices, etc…for you to easily choose from. Image 1 Ways to buy a weed trimmer There are numerous factors for you to consider when purchasing a weed trimmer. Think carefully before giving your best choice. Image 2 Types Top 3 popular types of the weed trimmer include gasoline, electric and battery. Each of them has specific features to be suitable for different types of customers. The first option is plug-in electric weed trimmer. Working based on electricity, it is an ideal suggestion for small lawns and yards. Most of electric types are light-weight and silent in use...
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... As a group, we decided to plant kale. Kale is a group of vegetable cultivars within the plant species Brassica oleracea. Interestingly, Kale is considered to be closer to wild cabbage than most domesticated forms of Brassica oleracea. Our decision as a group as based on how much energy was required to grow kale. Because kale was really easy to grow well in different climate, we felt strong about our decision because of changing seasons and temperatures were decreasing. We planted both our kale plant and seeds on the bottom of our garden plot. Because of our plants location, I was concerned that our plant will not receive as much sun light because of the building located directly across and the solar panel locate above our plant. I was also concerned on the effect water will have on our plant since our garden plot was located on a slope which had a lot of deep rooted weed and lots of small rocks. Before we started plating, we began by removing the weed roots so that it would not grow back to rapidly. We also took away the small rocks on our plot so that the soil could be fertile. I tried my best to dig a deep enough hole so that our kale plant could stay in the same place and the roots could attach to the ground. After that, we watered it with as much water as we could, we made sure to also water the roots. During the first three weeks, we tried to take turn watering the plant, but as the semester progressed, water our plant as much as we had originally planned. During this...
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...WORX How to Use Stone in Landscaping Natural stone is an element that homeowners often overlook when making DIY landscape plans. The sublime qualities stone brings to the yard and garden come from its “naturalness.” Being a natural material, unlike concrete, stone looks like it belongs there and helps to anchor the entire look and feel of the landscape. Stone’s natural look is enhanced by the fact that it is highly durable and functional as a hardscape construction material. A few ways you can incorporate stone into your landscape include: Add accent boulders to landscape beds. Use pea gravel, slate chips or other types of small stone for mulch. Create a pathway “paved” with decorative gravel and/or flagstone. Convert a drainage swale into a dry creekbed with variable sizes of river rock. Use thick stone “steppers” to tame a sloped pathway. Build a decorative wall, or even a functioning retaining wall. With seemingly endless types of stone available at a wide range of prices, I recommend creating a plan before making a purchase. You can create a look that blends in with the local surroundings, or you can make your landscape look more exotic. The object should be to suit your own tastes while considering factors such as architectural design, color pallette and even plant selection. A great way to incorporate a sense of permanence is by observing the look of the natural stone outcroppings in your area, and purchase stone in colors and textures that complement your surroundings...
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...Minsuh Do you have a memory of a perfume that you can’t forget? There are lots of smells that you make happy, sad and bring back memories. One summer night, I was walking and was attracted to a smell like a magnet. The perfume reminded me of my mother. I tried to find the smell, but it was too dark for me to find it. I just felt the perfume and walked alongside the smell. The fragrance was intoxicating and I walked for a long time. Just then I saw faint something. There were some people who looked after plants in the garden. They preferred working at night rather than daytime because during the day it was very hot. While I was looking at the people who were working, I felt the smell strong more and more. One of the people looked after the plant which gives out the scent in the garden. The name of the plant is Angel’s morning glory, one of the flowers. My mom has lots of talents. She is a nimble-fingered person. When I was young, my mom made me pretty dolls and clothes. I liked playing with them. She gave me a celebrated painting which is cross-stitched by her as a gift. It is really amazing and fantastic! She has great dexterity. Also she is interested in her very beautiful garden and takes good care of plants. She takes care of them sincerely like when she brought us up. Our garden has lots of gorgeous and fancy flowers. One of the flowers is my mom’s favorite, called Angel’s morning glory. The flower has a lovely sweet scent, but it smells only at night! Every...
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...Jabian Viltz Mark Aragon Ryan Beaver Nebiz Perez GS1145 October 23, 2014 Instructor: Harper, Steed Project 1. When selecting our business we looked at many options to go with using only $5,000. Which in a typical world you wouldn’t think that it would be enough to start a business but we found out that you don’t necessarily have to have a lot of money to fund a successful business you just have to have the ambition to do so. Business selection Our business/Idea for making a profit with using only $5,000 is to come up with a lawn care crew. Essentially having a crew you will need to have money to pay your workers so we decided that we would start off doing the work or self until we made a bigger profit and became well known for our company before we looked to expand. The start-up for Lawn care will cost roughly $3,000 which will include the cost for the mowers, trimmers, bagging, seeders, brooms and other assorted items. With all that will be able to have a successful business and also have to check on the proper license for the county that we are developing the business in because many states and county have different tax affidavit, liability insurance and state tax numbers. Recurring expenses There is a lot of upkeep when having a lawn care business. You will have to make sure you have your equipment up to date and ready for the jobs you have lined up because with no equipment there is no business. You also have to advertise your business so that will...
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