i like to live off of the land.
[{"role": "system", "content": "Agriculture is the cultivation and breeding of animals, plants and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal plants and other products used to sustain and enhance life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. The history of agriculture by humans dates back thousands of years, and its development has been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies; industrial agriculture based on large-scale monoculture farming has become the dominant agricultural method. Although generally understood to denote the practices of humans, other animals\u2014for example, fungus-growing ants\u2014have also been found to engage in agriculture. Modern agronomy, plant breeding, agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, and technological developments have in many cases sharply increased yields from cultivation, but at the same time have caused widespread ecological damage and negative human health effects. Selective breeding and modern practices in animal husbandry have similarly increased the output of meat, but have raised concerns about animal welfare, environmental damage (such as massive drainage of resources such as water and feed fed to the animals, global warming, rainforest destruction, leftover waste products that are littered), and the health effects of the antibiotics, growth hormones, artificial additives and other chemicals commonly used in industrial meat production.\n"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I love learning about agriculture and living off the land!"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Could not agree more. It amazing to think how the practice of agriculture allowed the transition to permanent civilization from nomadic tribes."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Agreed!  Our civilization has come a long way!  I teach our kids the basics in case we have to resort back to old methods."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "It is always good to teach about the balance of ecosystems and how we can engage with it to steward it and produce food regardless of climate and technology. "}, {"role": "user", "content": "So what do you think is the most important essential needs or methods of agriculture that we must know?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I think the biggest need right now is learning sustainability - the ability to consistently grow without destroying the land."}, {"role": "user", "content": "I could agree more.  But what I meant was more individual need.  I think we all need to know how to grow our own gardens to survive."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I see. Yes, for individual needs I think what is most important is knowing your own climate zone and what will do well there."}]