Horticulture
What is Horticulture?
Horticulture is a small-scale, low-intensity farming practice that involves cultivating plants and crops by hand, without the use of advanced technology like plows or irrigation systems. Horticultural societies typically grow a variety of crops for local consumption and may practice shifting cultivation, where fields are rotated to allow soil recovery.
Role of Horticulture in Human Evolution
Horticulture, or growing plants on a small scale, played a big part in human evolution! Long ago, people were hunters and gatherers, moving around to find food. But with horticulture, they learned to grow their own plants for food, like fruits and vegetables.
Example 1: Growing food allowed people to stay in one place, which led to the first villages and communities. This helped them build closer connections with each other.
Example 2: Growing their own plants also meant they had extra food, so they could spend more time creating tools, art, and other inventions.
In short, horticulture helped humans settle down, work together, and make new discoveries!
Horticulture and Subsistence Farming
Horticulture is a type of small-scale gardening where people grow plants like fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It often uses simple tools instead of heavy machines. People usually grow these plants to meet the needs of their family or a small community. Horticulture includes practices like planting in small plots, rotating crops to keep the soil healthy, and using compost to improve the soil.
Subsistence farming is also about growing food, but it often involves both plants and animals. Farmers in subsistence farming grow just enough food to survive and feed their family or local group. They usually don’t have much left over to sell. Subsistence farmers focus on staple crops like rice, corn, or potatoes because these provide most of their food and energy needs.
In both horticulture and subsistence farming, people rely on their own work and resources to support themselves. These methods of farming are important for survival, especially in areas where people don’t have access to large-scale farming or stores for food.