mediterranean climate
a climate with a sea as a border, sea winds, dry/hot summers, hills, cliffs, and narrow strips of flat land
tropical climate
a climate with average temps above 64 degrees. abundant precipitation, small temp range, and minimal seasonal rhythm
intensive agriculture
agriculture that involves greater inputs of capital and paid labor relative to the space being used
market gardening
small scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops
plantation agriculture
a large commercial farm that specializes in one crop
mixed crop/livestock system
most of the crops are fed to the animals and the manure gives soil fertility
extensive agriculture
agriculture that used fewer inputs of capital and paid labor relative to the space being used
shifting cultivation
farmers clear land for planting by slashing vegetation and burning the debris
nomadic herding
herding domesticated animals in dry climates where planting crops is impossible- no permanent residence
ranching
the commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area
rural settlement pattern
clustered and close-together pattern where homes can be tightly compacted together in a rural area
clustered settlement pattern
tightly compacted homes/buildings in a rural area in a specific pattern
dispersed settlement pattern
a rural settlement pattern characterized by isolated farms rather than clustered villages
linear settlement pattern
buildings clustered along a road, river, or dike to facilitate communications
rural survey method
a method that shows different ways to identify our land
metes and bounds
a method of land description which involves identifying distances and directions and makes use of both the physical boundaries and measurement of the land
township and range
a rectangular land division scheme designed by thomas jefferson to disperse settlers evenly across farmlands of US interior
long lot
a settlement pattern in southern Quebec and some other areas of Canada where individual lots tend to be long and narrow and extend back from major rivers or roads
domestication
to adapt or tame wild animals to human benefit
transhumance
the seasonal movement of livestock between mountains and low land pastures
high-yield seed
crops that produce more food pre-farming cycle than other wild varieties
mechanized farming
agriculture using modern powered equipment instead of animals or human labor
subsistence agriculture
agriculture designed primarily to provide food for direct consumption
commercial agriculture
the farming of products for sale off the farm
monocropping
the agricultural practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same land
commodity chain
process used by firms to gather resources, transforms them into goods or commodities, and distributes them to consumers
carrying capacity
the ability of the land to sustain a certain number of people
global supply chain
system of organizations, people, technology, activities, info, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer
export commodity
the export of just a few agricultural or mining commodities
pollution
occurs when humans contaminate the air, water, or land
land cover change
process in which agricultural areas are lost due to human development
desertification
process in which previously fertile lands become avid and unusable for farming
soil salinization
the slow build up of salt in the soil
conservation
the sustainable use and management of earth’s natural resources to meet human needs
slash and burn agriculture
burning a portion of the forest so that the soil can be used for agricultural purposes
terrace farming
building a series of steps or flat land for farming on the sides of hills or mountains
irrigation
man made system where by water is spread from its natural source over a much larger geographic range to aid in agricultural production
deforestation
the destruction of forest or forested areas by humans or natural means
pastoral nomadism
a way of life of peoples who do not live continually in the same place but move cyclically or periodically
biotechnology
a form of technology that uses living organisms, usually genes, to modify products/plants/animals for specific purposes
genetically modified organisms
a crop whose genetic structure has been altered to make it more useful and efficient for human purposes
aquaculture
name given to all farming and rearing of fish and marine plants that does not fall under the category of fishing
sustainability
the use of earth’s resources in a way that ensures their availability in the future
biodiversity
variety of life in the world in a particular habitat or ecosystem
fertilizer
any substance added to soil or water to increase productivity of crops
pesticide
chemicals used to treat agricultural crops to kill insects or animals that might try to damage the crops
urban farming
the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around a village, town, or city
community-supported agriculture
a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms
value-added specialty crops
goods have some other product in them or item attached to them to make them unique and sold at a higher price
fair trade
concept used in developing countries to hep create sustainability
local-food movement
a movement which aids to connect food producers in the same geographic region
undernourishment
dietary energy consumption continuously below minimum requirement for maintaining a healthy lifestyle
food insecurity
when cost of food is too high in certain regions, or a family is struggling to make ends meet
food desert
an area that has limited access to affordable and nutritious food