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'''Agriculture''' is the intentional growing of plants for human use.

'''Agriculture''' is the intentional growing of plants for human use.

Farming was punishment for Adam after the Fall, around 4000 B.C., as explained in the [[Book of Genesis]], chapter 3.  Civilizations based on agriculture then developed around 3000 B.C., and ever since most human populations have been dependent on agriculture by some 2,000 years ago. <ref>http://courses.washington.edu/anth457/agorigin.htm</ref>.

Farming was punishment for Adam after the Fall, around 4000 B.C., as explained in the [[Book of Genesis]], chapter 3.  [[Civilization]]s based on agriculture then developed around 3000 B.C., and ever since most human populations have been dependent on agriculture by some 2,000 years ago. <ref>http://courses.washington.edu/anth457/agorigin.htm</ref>.

The cultivation of [[plants]] for [[food]], often called [[gardening]] or [[farming]], is the most efficient way to produce your own food for the purpose of achieving a [[Self-sufficient living|self-sufficient lifestyle]]. There are many different types of plants you can grow for food, each will have its own advantages and disadvantages.

The cultivation of [[plants]] for [[food]], often called [[gardening]] or [[farming]], is the most efficient way to produce your own food for the purpose of achieving a [[Self-sufficient living|self-sufficient lifestyle]]. There are many different types of plants you can grow for food, each will have its own advantages and disadvantages.

Various amounts of care are involved, from little more than scattering [[seed]]s and later checking for a [[harvest]], to [[permaculture]] [[homestead]]s to large scale industrial agriculture where thousands of [[acre]]s are devoted to growing one [[crop]] (monocrops), using carefully bred and selected seeds (often [[genetically modified organism]]s), highly processed [[man-made]] chemical [[fertilizer]]s, and a variety of [[insecticide]]s, [[pesticide]]s, and [[herbicide]]s.

Various amounts of care are involved, from little more than scattering [[seed]]s and later checking for a [[harvest]], to [[permaculture]] [[homestead]]s to large scale industrial agriculture where thousands of [[acre]]s are devoted to growing one [[crop]] ([[monocrop]]s), using carefully bred and selected [[seed]]s (often [[genetically modified organism]]s), highly processed [[man-made]] chemical [[fertilizer]]s, and a variety of [[insecticide]]s, [[pesticide]]s, and [[herbicide]]s.

The plants themselves have been selectively bred (hybrid seeds) since the early days of agriculture for many characteristics, including [[fruit]] size and yield, [[disease]] and [[pest]] resistance, [[drought]] or wetness tolerance - in fact, any trait that could be imagined to be useful.

The plants themselves have been selectively bred ([[hybrid seed]]s) since the early days of agriculture for many characteristics, including [[fruit]] size and yield, [[disease]] and [[pest]] resistance, [[drought]] or wetness tolerance - in fact, any trait that could be imagined to be useful.

While it is immediately obvious that the first purpose for growing domesticated plants is to provide a stable [[food]] supply, we also grow plants for fibers to make [[clothing]], to press for [[oil]], or to make into [[paper]].  Plants are also grown for real or perceived [[herbal medicine|medicinal]] properties, like [[Valerian root]] or [[St. John's wort]].

While it is immediately obvious that the first purpose for growing domesticated plants is to provide a stable [[food]] supply, we also grow plants for fibers to make [[clothing]], to press for [[oil]], or to make into [[paper]].  Plants are also grown for real or perceived [[herbal medicine|medicinal]] properties, like [[Valerian root]] or [[St. John's wort]].

By tying a community to the location where its crops are planted, and making the production and storage of surpluses possible, agriculture led to the development of [[village]]s and [[city|cities]], and the need for, invention, and [[Technological Development|development]] of [[civilization]] itself

By tying a community to the location where its crops are planted, and making the production and storage of surpluses possible, agriculture led to the development of [[village]]s and [[city|cities]], and the need for, invention, and [[Technological Development|development]] of [[civilization]] itself

==References==

==References==