milpa
Definition
Noun: A milpa is a traditional Mesoamerican agricultural system that involves a small, often temporary field cleared from forest, typically used for growing a diverse mix of crops such as maize, beans, and squash.
Usage Examples
- (A small, cleared field used for diverse crop planting.)
- (A traditional farming plot supporting local subsistence.)
Advanced Usage
- "milpa cycle": the rotational practice of clearing, planting, and then allowing a field to lie fallow for several years.
- After three years of cultivation, the milpa was left to regenerate into secondary forest. (The field was rested to restore nutrients.)
Variants and Related Words
- Milpero (noun): a person who works a milpa.
- The milpero rose early to tend his maize and bean plants. (A farmer specializing in milpa agriculture.)
Synonyms
- Swidden: a temporary agricultural plot cleared by slashing and burning vegetation.
- Shifting cultivation field: a plot used in rotational farming systems.
- Clearing: an area of land cleared for cultivation.
Related Idioms
- "to plant a milpa": to begin a traditional farming cycle.
- He decided to plant a milpa on the family land, following his ancestors' methods. (To start a small-scale, diverse crop field.)