Rummaging in My Notes 10: Oiza and The Birth of The Orchards.

Huerto Familiar

The beginnings of agriculture correspond to the early days of horticulture. Before cultivating large fields, men grew plants around their homes.

Fields and Orchards

The first to practice horticulture were the men and women of the Neolithic (between 6000 and 3000 BC which follows the Mesolithic and precedes the Metal Age, and is characterized by the development of the productive economy, implementation of agriculture and animal husbandry). At the beginning, orchards were limited to small plots of edible plants around inhabited water points. As the population increased, each civilization that emerged from the different sources of agricultural irradiation developed its own culture, beliefs and technology. Thus, the Mesopotamian civilization, between 3500 and 2000 B.C., invented the first irrigation of the fields, which allowed farmers to dominate the arid land and exercise their agricultural activity over large areas.

The Flowers in the Cultures

In all civilizations, the cultivation of plants became the symbol of life, as well as a source of power. The kings, often assimilated to gods, lived in splendid places planted with flowers, fruit trees and water surfaces.

Considered one of the seven wonders of the world, the hanging gardens of Babylon are proof of the power of King Nebuchadnezzar II. were the property of the king. The main use of pottery, that of storing food and drink, was quickly diverted to the cultivation of flowers. Already in ancient Egypt, pots embellished gardens; just as in China growing flowers was considered an art, even endowed with a mystical importance, so the flowering of peach trees symbolizes spring; the lotus symbolizes summer; the chrysanthemum symbolizes autumn and the narcissus symbolizes winter. Also in Central America, with the Aztecs and their God of flowers, Xochipilli, and a Goddess of flowers and fertility Xochiquetzal.

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In the Middle Ages, horticulture developed around abbeys and castles. Enclosed orchards, hortus conclusus, were created where fruit trees, vines, medicinal herbs and other ornamental plants were grown. In the Renaissance, horticulture was transformed by the introduction of plants from the Middle East and the New World, following the great discoveries. But what is Horticulture? The term horticulture dates back to the 19th century and comes from the Latin hortus "orchard". Horticulture is the cultivation of gardens, whether ornamental or food. It includes the cultivation of ornamental and fruit trees (arboriculture), as well as aromatic and medicinal plants, vegetables and flowers. In Venezuela and certainly in many Latin countries, the planting of small spaces near the houses is called conucos, which to tell the truth this practice has diminished a lot, probably due to the insecurity and even the abandonment of rural areas.

Oiza and his Family Vegetable Garden Nowadays, horticulture has experienced a great advance, crops are becoming more and more specialized and more resistant to pests and diseases. The economic situation of the country, the low food production and the low purchasing power of the currency is forcing Venezuelans to plant small spaces, especially with horticultural products such as tomatoes, peppers, peppers, cassava, bananas, among others. There are also spaces for ornamental plants since they fulfill a double function, in addition to the ornamental they produce a humanistic effect to the environment. We have flowering plants such as the Emperor's cane, Alpineas, palms, low ornamental plants and also medicinal plants such as aloe vera, oregano, pennyroyal!

1.-Original photographic support and writing by Oizaguirres for read.cash

2.-(not own photos indicated in the writing)