| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Market Gardening | A form of agriculture that involves the small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers for local markets |
| Mixed Crop/Livestock Systems | A form of agriculture that involves raising both crops and livestock on the same farm |
| Plantation Agriculture | The growing of a few crops on a large piece of land |
| Mediterranean Climate | A climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters |
| Tropical Climate | A climate characterized by warm temperatures and high levels of precipitation |
| Shifting Cultivation | A form of agriculture where farmers move from one area to another in order to allow the soil to regenerate |
| Nomadic Herding/Pastoral Nomadism | A form of agriculture where herders move their livestock in search of food and water |
| Ranching | A form of agriculture that involves raising large groups of animals, primarily for meat or dairy production |
| Rural Settlement Patterns | The ways in which people choose to organize themselves in rural areas through clustering, dispersal, or linear patterns |
| Early Hearths | Areas where agricultural practices first began, including the Fertile Crescent, Indus River Valley, Southeast Asia, and Central America |
| Columbian Exchange | The exchange of plants, animals, and disease between the Old World and the New World following Columbus's arrival in the Americas |
| Agricultural Revolutions | Major changes in agricultural practices that have led to increased productivity, including the Green Revolution and mechanization |
| Commodity Chains | The series of steps that a product goes through from the time it is created to the time it is sold to consumers |
| Von Thünen Model | A model that shows the relationship between market prices and the spatial distribution of farms |
| Slash and Burn Agriculture | A form of agriculture where farmers clear land by cutting down and burning trees and other vegetation |
| Biotechnology | Technology based on biology, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) |
| Food Desert | An area where it is difficult to find affordable and nutritious food |
| Food Processing Facility | A facility where food is prepared for distribution |
| Irrigation | The artificial application of water to land for agriculture |
| Deforestation | The clearing of forests for human use |
| Wetlands | Land areas that are saturated with water |
| Fertilizer | A substance added to soil to enhance plant growth |
| Biodiversity | The variety of life in a particular ecosystem |
| Aquaculture/Fish Farming | The farming of fish and other aquatic organisms |
| Subsistence Agriculture | A form of agriculture where farmers grow only enough food to feed themselves and their families |
| Commercial Agriculture | A form of agriculture that involves the production of crops for sale |
| Salinization | The buildup of salts in soil, often due to irrigation |
| Monoculture/Monocropping | A form of agriculture where only one type of crop is grown in a large area |
| Desertification | The process of fertile land turning into desert due to climate change or human activity |
| Terraces | A method of farming on steep slopes that involves carving out flat areas for planting crops |
| Community Supported Agriculture | A system where consumers buy 'shares' in a local farm and receive a portion of the harvest |
| Urban Agriculture | The practice of growing food in cities, including community gardens and rooftop gardens |
| Organic Agriculture | A form of agriculture that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides |
| Value-Added Specialty Crops | Crops that are processed in some way before sale, such as turning them into jams or jellies |
| Local Food Movements | The movement to support locally grown and produced food |
| Pesticides | Substances used to kill pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi |
| Metes and Bounds | A land use pattern where the physical landscape is used to divide property, often seen in English American colonies |
| Township and Range | A land management system that divides land into a grid pattern of townships, ranges, and sections, established by the U.S. Land Ordinance of 1785 |
| Bid-rent theory | A geographical economic theory that explains how real estate prices and demand change as the distance from the central business district (CBD) increases |