Crop selection

[(E)]

I'm looking for information about what crops are planted and how much of each crop is planted each year/season by a relatively self sufficent low tech community (village/town etc).

I have lots of fragmentary data and examples about this but little unifying theory. That said, a unifying theory may not exist.

If anyone knows of any sources to research or has any information it would be appreciated.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by (E)

I'm looking for information about what crops are planted and how much of each crop is planted each year/season by a relatively self sufficent low tech community (village/town etc).

I have lots of fragmentary data and examples about this but little unifying theory. That said, a unifying theory may not exist.

If anyone knows of any sources to research or has any information it would be appreciated.

Have you already considered GURPS Low-Tech Companion 3?

[adaman14]

Is there a specific time period and civilization you are trying to emulate?

[AlexanderHowl]

The location and era matters a lot. After the Columbian exchange, American staples started being grown in Africa, Asia, and Europe in vast quantities, so much so that many people in those regions assume that crops like chocolate, maize, peanuts, pineapple, potato, pumpkin, tomato, vanilla, etc. are native to their culture. Before the Columbian exchange, the crops of the Old World were much less varied, with the majority of land being devoted to grains like barley, millet, rice, sorghum, soybean, rye, wheat, etc..

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

The location and era matters a lot. After the Columbian exchange, American staples started being grown in Africa, Asia, and Europe in vast quantities, so much so that many people in those regions assume that crops like chocolate, maize, peanuts, pineapple, potato, pumpkin, tomato, vanilla, etc. are native to their culture. Before the Columbian exchange, the crops of the Old World were much less varied, with the majority of land being devoted to grains like barley, millet, rice, sorghum, soybean, rye, wheat, etc..

It depends a lot on where in the 'old' or 'new' world you are too - peanuts are South American, as are pineapples (and so not part of pre-Columbian North American diets).

Soybeans are East Asian, and thus not part of old European diets. Peas were originally Mediterranean and Near Eastern, and spread to Europe and India quite early. Broad beans and lentils were common pretty much all over Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Europe also had a wide range of root crops (Turnips, beets, etc.), many of which were displaced by potatoes, and also many brassicas, and lettuces.

One thing that's always amused me is the assumption that Indian food ('curries') naturally have lots of chilli in them to make them hot. Chilli is, of course, not native to India, but to the Americas.

[Anthony]

Also, as far as a 'theory' behind what was grown, having theories that meaningfully enhanced traditional practices is largely a TL 5+ feature.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

The location and era matters a lot. After the Columbian exchange, American staples started being grown in Africa, Asia, and Europe in vast quantities, so much so that many people in those regions assume that crops like chocolate, maize, peanuts, pineapple, potato, pumpkin, tomato, vanilla, etc. are native to their culture. Before the Columbian exchange, the crops of the Old World were much less varied, with the majority of land being devoted to grains like barley, millet, rice, sorghum, soybean, rye, wheat, etc..

The majority of land is still devoted to staple crops; it's just that maize has joined what and rice as a staple grain, and potatoes have become a staple root crop. Things like chocolate, peppers, and tobacco occupy much less acreage, and are grown much more for sale rather than subsistence.