Wikiciv - User contributions [en]

User:TheHermit

2025-05-08T20:38:38Z

TheHermit:

Hey, I'm a big [[botany]] and [[anthropology]] nerd. Those two combined made me dive into the fascinating world of [[ethnobotany]], which I am proud to say I know a thing or two about.

I'm interested in [[culture]], [[language]], [[philosophy]], [[history]], [[food]], [[human migration]], [[permaculture]], [[foraging]], and how all of those things are connected. That's what I'll primarily be contributing to on here. I'm very excited to find a website like this - there was an ad on YouTube that brought me here.

User:TheHermit

2025-05-08T20:30:00Z

TheHermit: Created page with "Hey, I'm a big botany and anthropology nerd. Those two combined made me dive into the fascinating world of ethnobotany, which I am proud to say I know a thing or two about. I'm really interested in culture, language, philosophy, history, food, human migration, permaculture, foraging, and how all of those things are connected. That's what I'll primarily be contributing to on here. I'm very excited to find a website like this - there was an ad on YouTube that brought me..."

Hey, I'm a big botany and anthropology nerd. Those two combined made me dive into the fascinating world of ethnobotany, which I am proud to say I know a thing or two about.

I'm really interested in culture, language, philosophy, history, food, human migration, permaculture, foraging, and how all of those things are connected. That's what I'll primarily be contributing to on here. I'm very excited to find a website like this - there was an ad on YouTube that brought me here.

Linen

2025-05-08T20:12:51Z

TheHermit:

[[File:Men's Linen Work Shirt.jpg|thumb|200px|Men's linen work shirt.]]

'''Linen''' is a [[Textiles|textile]] made from the [[fibers]] of the [[flax]] plant. Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than [[cotton]]. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also has other distinctive characteristics, particularly its tendency to wrinkle. Linen textiles are among the the oldest in the world. Flax fibers are woven into linen cloth, but some cloth made of cotton, [[hemp]], or other non-flax fibers, are sometimes referred to as "linen". However true linen is made from flax.

== Fiber production ==
The flax fiber is harvested by pulling the entire plant out of the ground in order to maximize fiber length. After harvesting, the [[seeds]] are removed by brushing the flax through a "comb" of metal spikes called a [[ripple]], which can be made by driving nails through a piece of wood<ref>https://www.wildfibres.co.uk/html/rippling_flax.html?redirect=false</ref>. Another way of rippling flax is to use a [[rolling pin]]. The flax is then subjected to a [[retting]] process where [[microorganisms]] partially break it down to expose the fiber - either dew retting or water retting is used for linen<ref>https://www.britannica.com/technology/retting</ref>. Dew retting is heavily dependent on climate, but is useful when water availability is limited. It involves spreading the harvested linen in the field and leaving it to be exposed to the elements for 2-3 weeks until the fiber can be separated. A quicker and often more controlled method is water retting, where bundles of flax are submerged, typically taking 1-2 weeks. It is effective in moving water such as a stream. After either method of retting, the fibers are dried for several weeks. Dried retted flax can be stored for decades before processing if necessary. Once the flax is dried, the cellulose core must be broken in order to isolate the linen fibers. A [[Wood|wooden]] [[Tools|tool]] known as a [[break]] is used to pound the flax. Scutching

hackling - rough hackle then fine hackle. like a fine comb

After hackling, the linen fiber is ready to be spun.

== See also ==
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Leather]]
* [[Nylon]]
* [[Silk]]
* [[Wool]]
* [[Textiles]]

== References ==
{{wa|Linen}}

[[Category:Textiles]]
[[Category:Stubs]]

Medicine

2025-05-08T19:51:02Z

TheHermit:

[[File:Star of life2.svg|thumb|The emergency medical services' Star of Life features a rod of Asclepius, a universal symbol for healing and medicine]]

'''Medicine''' is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness. Contemporary medicine applies biomedical sciences, biomedical research, genetics, and medical technology to diagnose, treat, and prevent injury and disease, typically through pharmaceuticals or surgery, but also through therapies as diverse as psychotherapy, external splints and traction, medical devices, biologics, and ionizing radiation, amongst others.

Medicine has been practiced since prehistoric times, and for most of this time it was an art (an area of skill and knowledge), frequently having connections to the religious and philosophical beliefs of local culture. For example, a medicine man would apply herbs and say prayers for healing, or an ancient philosopher and physician would apply bloodletting according to the theories of humorism. In recent centuries, since the advent of modern science, most medicine has become a combination of art and science (both basic and applied, under the umbrella of medical science). For example, while stitching technique for sutures is an art learned through practice, the knowledge of what happens at the cellular and molecular level in the tissues being stitched arises through science.

Prescientific forms of medicine, now known as traditional medicine or folk medicine, remain commonly used in the absence of scientific medicine, and are thus called alternative medicine. Alternative treatments outside of scientific medicine with safety and efficacy concerns are termed quackery.

== World Health Organization's Essential Medicine List ==
[[World Health Organization's Essential Medicine List|Dedicated article: ''World Health Organization's Essential Medicine List'']]

The '''WHO EML''' contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe to meet the most important needs in a health system.

The list is divided into core items and complementary items. The core items are deemed to be the most cost-effective options for key health problems and are usable with little additional health care resources. The complementary items either require additional infrastructure such as specially trained health care providers or diagnostic equipment or have a lower cost–benefit ratio.

The most recent '''EML''' (as of 2025) contains 591 drugs and 103 therapeutic equivalents.<ref>"WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines". ''World Health Organization''. Retrieved 8 August 2023.</ref>

== Examples ==
[[Activated charcoal|Activated carbon]] is used to treat poisonings and overdoses following oral ingestion. Tablets or capsules of activated carbon are used in many countries as an over-the-counter drug to treat diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence. However, activated charcoal shows no effect on intestinal gas and diarrhea, and is, ordinarily, medically ineffective if poisoning resulted from ingestion of corrosive agents, [[boric acid]], [[petroleum]] products, and is particularly ineffective against poisonings of strong acids or bases, [[cyanide]], [[iron]], [[lithium]], [[arsenic]], methanol, ethanol or ethylene glycol. Activated carbon will not prevent these chemicals from being absorbed into the human body. Incorrect application (e.g. into the lungs) results in pulmonary aspiration, which can sometimes be fatal if immediate medical treatment is not initiated.

[[Nitroglycerin]] has been used for over a century in medicine as a potent vasodilator (dilation of the vascular system) to treat heart conditions. Nitroglycerin has been available in sublingual tablets, sprays, ointments, and patches.

[[Opium]], made from the [[opium poppy]], is another medicine that has been used for over 8,000 years as potent pain relief, anesthesia, and cough suppression. Its derivatives such morphine, codeine, and oxycodone are still pertinent to advanced modern medicine today. <ref>[https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.92.15_supplement.P4.9-055#:~:text=Results%3A,a%20panacea%20for%20all%20maladies. https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.92.15_supplement.P4.9-055#:~:text=Results%3A,a%20panacea%20for%20all%20maladies.]</ref>

[[Quinine]] was the first proper medicine used to treat [[malaria]] at least 400 years ago.

== Shelf life ==
A medicine's shelf life is the time that it has before its expiration date, the final day that the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication.<ref name="Drugs">[https://www.drugs.com/article/drug-expiration-dates.html Drug Expiration Dates - Are Expired Drugs Still Safe to Take?], 20 July 2022, Drugs.com. Retrieved on 14 January 2023</ref>

=== Safety ===
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted the Shelf Life Extension Program on behalf of the US Department of Defense to study the shelf life of stockpiled military medications. The study concluded that 90% of over 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even for up to 15 years after the expiration date.<ref name="Drugs" /><ref>[https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drug-expiration-dates-do-they-mean-anything Drug Expiration Dates — Do They Mean Anything?], 29 August 2020, Harvard Health Publishing. Retrived on 14 January 2023</ref>

However, it is difficult for a consumer or health care provider to know which medicine could have an extended shelf life or expiration date, and the FDA advises to never take drugs beyond their expiration date as it is risky with many unknown variables. The use of expired drugs that requiere an absolute effectiveness can be life-threatening. For instance, EpiPen autoinjectors, used in situations like anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction, often due to nuts and other foods, insect stings, or medications), are an unstable chemical subject to degradation and there can be a major health threat or death risk related to an expired EpiPen. The FDA requires that epinephrine autoinjector expiration dates ensure that the devices contain at least 90% of the original dose of epinephrine.<ref name="Drugs" />

=== List ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Product
!Treatment
!Shelf life
|-
|Albuterol
|Asthma attacks
|
|-
|Antibiotics
|Most illnesses caused by bacterial infection
|
|-
|Antihistamines
|Most allergies symptoms
|
|-
|Atorvastatin
|High cholesterol
|
|-
|Gabapentin
|Seizures or nerve pain relieve after shingles <br> (rash caused by viral infection)
|
|-
|Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen
|Severe pain <br> Antitussive (cough suppressant)
|
|-
|Levothyroxine
|Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
|
|-
|Losarttan
|Hypertension (high blood pressure)
|
|-
|Metformin
|Type 2 diabetes
|3 years from the date of manufacture.<ref>[https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/m/metformintab.pdf METFORMIN NEW ZEALAND DATA SHEET], Medsafe. Retrieved on 14 January 2023.</ref>
|-
|Omeprazole
|Heartburn and acid reflux
|
|}

== See also ==
* [[Food]]
* [[Technology]]
* [[Tools]]
* [[Emergency Medicine]]
* [[Penicillin]]
* [[Aspirin]]
* [[Activated charcoal]]
* [[Anesthesia]]
* [[Medicinal Plants]]

== References ==
<references/>

{{wa|Medicine}}
{{wa|Activated_charcoal}}
{{wa|Nitroglycerin}}

[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

Technology

2025-05-08T19:50:15Z

TheHermit:

[[File:Wheel Iran.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[wheel]], invented during the Bronze Age.]]

'''Technology''' is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way, or the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in [[medicine]], [[science]], [[industry]], [[communication]], [[transportation]], and daily life. Technologies include physical objects like [[utensils]] or [[Simple Machines|machines]] and intangible [[tools]] such as [[software]].

Many [[technological advancements]] have led to [[societal changes]]. The earliest known technology is the [[stone]] tool, used in the prehistoric era, followed by [[fire]] use, which contributed to the growth of the human brain and the development of [[language]] in the Ice Age. The invention of the [[wheel]] in the [[Bronze Age]] enabled wider travel and the creation of more complex machines. Recent technological developments, including the printing press, the telephone, and the Internet have lowered communication barriers and ushered in the knowledge economy.

While technology contributes to economic development and human prosperity, it can also have negative impacts like pollution or resource depletion, or cause social harms like technological unemployment caused by automation. As a result, philosophical and political debates have arisen over the role and use of technology, the ethics of technology, and the mitigation of technology's potential downsides. Historical and contemporary movements like neo-Luddism and anarcho-primitivism criticize technology's pervasiveness, while adherents to transhumanism and techno-progressivism actively support technological change, viewing it as emancipatory.

== See also ==
* [[Medicine]]
* [[Simple Machines]]
* [[Tools]]
* [[Weapons]]

== References ==
{{wa|Technology}}

[[Category:Technology]]

Radio

2025-05-08T19:34:28Z

TheHermit:

'''"Radio"''' refers to a family of technologies that make the use of [[electromagnetic waves]] in the [[radio frequency]] range, for purposes related to [[wireless telecommunications]] and other uses such as direction finding for [[navigation]], [[radar]], and microwave ovens among others.

== Key Concepts in Radio ==
These are some of the main general concepts required to understand radio technology at large.

=== [[Radio Waves]] ===
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves, with frequencies below roughly 300 GHz in the [[electromagnetic spectrum]] (or wavelengths larger than 1 millimeter). These waves are produced by the motion of electric charges, and they propagate at the speed of light through air, vacuum and other mediums to a case dependent degree.

Radio waves can be modified at their origin to imprint information on them (a process called modulation) and convey it wiressly over long distances.

Radio signals are characterized by parameters such as their carrier frequency (the frequency of the unmodulated signal), their bandwidth (the size of the span of frequencies contained in the signal when modulated) and the type of modulation used in them.

=== Radio Transmitter ===
A device used to produce high frequency (radio frequency) alternating current, which is fed into an antenna for the emission of radio waves. The transmitter is powered by electricity and usually serves the additional role of modulating the RF signal to carry information, such as a sound signal, analog television, digital data or other.

Transmitter types and construction vary greatly depending on their frequency of operation, type of modulation, power output, and the technology used in its construction.

=== [[Radio Receiver]] ===
A device that takes the radio frequency signal captured by an antenna and extracts useful information modulated into said signal. A radio receiver usually performs the task of amplifying the incoming signals, filtering them so that only one frequency is selected (and the specific transmission on that frequency), and extracting the information being conveyed (demodulating).

=== Radio Antenna ===
A device used to convert radio-frequency electrical energy into electromagnetic waves that propagate through open space, and viceversa. Antennas are used both by transmitters and receivers, and can be of a variety of types depending on their purpose and mode of operation.

Antennas are usually built by the strategic arrangement of electrical conductors (cables) and optionally reflectors such as parabollic dishes or metal bars. They work by spatially arranging the conductors so that the magnetic and electric fields produced by RF electricity flowing through them interact in the right way required to form the electromagnetic waves. The same process works in the opposite direction, efficiently capturing radio waves and producing an electrical RF signal that can be processed by a radio receiver.

=== Modulation ===
The process of altering one or more parameters of a radio frequency carrier signal to convey information. There are many types of modulation used for different purposes, the most widely known being Amplitude Modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) used for commercial radio broadcasts.

The process of doing this modification to the carrier signal is called Modulation, and the system in charge of doing this is called a modulator (usually part of a transmitter), while the reverse process to retrieve the information is called demodulation, and is carried by a system called a demodulator, or detector in older literature. Demodulators are usually part of radio receivers.

== Uses of Radio Technology ==

=== Telecommunications ===
The main use of radio technology is the conveying of information wirelessly, over long distances. This can take the form of a broadcast, where a transmitter radiates a modulated signal over a large area to be accessible by users with a suitable receiver, or access can be restricted by encrypting the signal, scrambling (special types of modulation that requires special equipment to decode), or focusing the radio waves into narrow beams for point to point communications, such as in microwave links.

=== Radio Control ===
Unmanned equipment or vehicles can be controlled by sending commands via radio signals.

=== Navigation ===
A directional antenna system is able to determine the direction from which a radio signal is coming from, this allows the creation of navigation beacons that allow vehicles such as boats or planes to estimate their position and heading even with no visibility.

=== Radar ===
The detection of objects by radio waves being reflected off their surfaces. Using directional antenna systems that send pulses of radio waves in narrow beams allows to sense the direction of objects while the delay of the reflected signal from the transmitted one allows the calculation of the distance to them.

This technology has been of great military use since the second world war, typically operating in the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Other uses include weather radar, which detects reflections from masses of water vapor in the atmosphere, traffic radar used to measure the speed of road vehicles, and astronomical radar used to detect objects in outer space, as could be done by the defunct Arecibo telescope.

=== Microwave ovens ===
Various materials can absorb radio waves (mainly microwaves) converting this energy into heat. This can be used to heat and cook food in a microwave oven, as well as other uses for high temperature chemistry and industrial processes.

Microwave heating was an accidental discovery during works on radar technology.

=== Radio Astronomy ===
The detection of radio waves produced naturally by astronomical objects, allowing their detection and study.

=== Wireless Power Transfer ===
It is possible, although extremely inefficient and impractical, to power devices remotely and wirelessly using powerful radio transmitters, as pioneered by Nikola Tesla.

Wireless power systems are inextricably subject to the inverse square law, which reduces the power output over distance for any given antenna system, as well as inherent energy waste from waves radiating in directions where they are not captured by any device making use of them.

Shovel

2025-05-08T19:24:28Z

TheHermit: added some links

[[File:Man shoveling coal LCCN2004660847.jpg|thumb|Drawing of a man shoveling coal by American artist Alfred Waud]]

A '''shovel''' is a tool used for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, [[coal]], [[gravel]], [[snow]], [[sand]], or [[ore]]. Most shovels are [[hand tools]] consisting of a broad [[blade]] fixed to a medium-length handle. Shovel blades are usually made of sheet [[steel]] or hard [[plastic]]s and are very strong. Shovel handles are usually made of [[wood]] or [[glass]]-reinforced plastic ([[fiberglass]]).

== Crafting instructions ==
There are two main forms of shovel construction: one where the entire digging end is [[Forging|forged]] from metal (forming both the blade and socket), and another where the shovel is primarily wooden, with a separate metal blade attached to the end. The latter is easier to craft with minimal tools and materials, making it more practical if you are working with less developed [[resources]].

=== Shovel with metal blade and socket ===
Find a piece of wood roughly 4ft (1.2 meters) in length. [[whittle]] it down to create a smooth surface. Forge the blade and socket using a forge. Common metals for this include [[iron]], [[steel]], [[copper]], and [[bronze]]. The basic form should look like a curved rectangle or elongated scoop with a slightly concave cross-section. The edge should be forged to have a rounded or pointed end at the center. average width and length should be 6-10 inches and 8-12 inches respectively. The socket should be conical or cylindrical in shape, angled upward designed to receive the handle with a snug fit. riveting or nailing it into the handle will increase security.

=== Wooden shovel with metal blade ===
Find a piece of wood roughly 5ft in length with at least one side being 6-10 inches in width to allow for creation of the scoop of the shovel. the basic form of the wooden scoop will be similar to that of the metal scoop form of shovel. The blade should be 2-3mm thick formed from [[iron]], [[steel]], [[copper]], or [[bronze]]. cut into a rounded rectangle equal in length to the width of the scoop. Blade height will very depending on material access, but should be long enough for you to be able to sharpen the blade multiple times without loss of functionality. Once the main form is created, attach the metal blade to the digging end of the shovel. this can be done via riveting or folding the blade around the wooden shovel form. You can also bind the blade edge with metal strips for extra durability.

==Dependencies==
*[[Iron]]
*[[Steel]]
*[[Stone]]
*[[Wood]]
*[[Blacksmithing]]
==Semi-dependents==
*[[Copper]]
*[[Bronze]]
*[[Coal]]
*[[Gravel]]
*[[Sand]]
*[[Snow]]

== See also ==
* [[Farming]]
* [[Tools]]

== References ==
{{wa|Shovel}}

[[Category:Tools]]
[[Category:Stubs]]

Pillars of Domestication

2025-05-08T19:19:11Z

TheHermit: info dumped

Without the domestication of the below species from both the [[Animal Kingdom|animal]] and [[Plant kingdom|plant kingdoms]], humans would not exist as they do today.

* [[Cereal Crops]] & [[Pseudo-cereal Crops]] ([[Wheat]] & other members of the [[Grasses|Grass Family]])
* [[Horses]]
* [[Potatoes]] & other members of the [[Nightshade Family]]
* [[Dogs]]
* [[Cattle]]
* [[Pigs]]
* [[Chickens]]
* [[Fruit Trees]] - [[Apple & Rose Family]], [[Citrus Family]]
* [[Nut Trees]] - [[Walnut & Hickory Family]]
* [[Legumes]] - [[Bean Family]]
* [[Root Vegetables]]
* [[Herbs & Spices]]
* [[Oil Producing Plants]]
* [[Caffeinated Plants]] ([[Tea]], [[Coffee]], and more)
* [[Fiber Plants]] (for producing [[textiles]])
* [[Medicinal Plants]] - we wouldn't have some heart medications like Digoxin (Lanoxin) without Foxglove (Digitalis)

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and more will be added.

Grasses

2025-05-08T18:50:30Z

TheHermit: Added in concept of pillars of domestication. I will be building on that further. The nightshade family (which includes potatoes) is another pillar. Imagine how much famine we would have without bread or potatoes?

[[File:Grasses in the Valles Caldera 2014-06-26.JPG|thumb|250px|Wind-blown grass in the Valles Caldera in New Mexico, United States]]

'''Grasses''' are a group of [[plant]] [[species]] that include grasses of natural [[grassland]] and species cultivated in [[lawns]] and [[pasture]]. They are one of the great [[Pillars of Domestication]]. Grasslands such as [[savanna]] and [[prairie]] where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the [[Earth]], excluding [[Greenland]] and [[Antarctica]]. Grasses are also an important part of the [[vegetation]] in many other [[habitats]], including [[wetlands]], [[forests]] and [[tundra]].

"Grass" is a colloquial name for members of the [[Poaceae]] [[plant family]]. They include some domesticated [[cereal crops]] such as [[maize]] (corn), [[wheat]], [[millet]], and [[rice]] are eaten around the world. The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family in modern times. They are used for [[forage]], [[building materials]] ([[bamboo]], [[thatch]]) and [[fuel]] ([[ethanol]]), as well as food.

[[Rushes]] and [[sedges]] fall outside this family, but are commonly referred to as grasses.

A silly little rhyme to remember the difference between grasses, rushes and sedges when trying to identify them:

''Sedges have edges''

''Rushes are round''

''Grasses have knees''

''that bend to the ground.''


== Uses==
Many species of grass have been cultivated and are a [[staple food]] for all of [[humanity]]. Without the [[cultivation]] of grasses and other plant families, we wouldn't survive as a species.

Grass can also be used as an improvised [[Fishing|fishing line]].<ref name=":0">[[wikihow:Fish-Without-Fishing-Gear|How to Fish Without Fishing Gear]] - WikiHow, 17 February 2022</ref>

== Some Notable Members ==

* Maize (corn)
* Wheat
* Millet
* Rice
* [[Barley]]
* [[Oat]]
* Bamboo
* [[Rye]]
* [[Farro]]
* [[Emmer]]
* [[Spelt]]

== See also ==
<div style="column-count:2">
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Pine]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Stick]]
* [[Wood]]
* [[Raw material]]
</div>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{wa|Poaceae}}

[[Category:Plant-derived raw materials]]

Grasses

2025-05-08T02:27:11Z

TheHermit: Added a comment because I am a silly goose

[[File:Grasses in the Valles Caldera 2014-06-26.JPG|thumb|250px|Wind-blown grass in the Valles Caldera in New Mexico, United States]]

'''Grasses''' are a group of [[plant]] [[species]] that include grasses of natural [[grassland]] and species cultivated in [[lawns]] and [[pasture]]. Grasslands such as [[savanna]] and [[prairie]] where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the [[Earth]], excluding [[Greenland]] and [[Antarctica]]. Grasses are also an important part of the [[vegetation]] in many other [[habitats]], including [[wetlands]], [[forests]] and [[tundra]].

"Grass" is a colloquial name for members of the [[Poaceae]] [[plant family]]. They include some domesticated [[cereal crops]] such as [[maize]] (corn), [[wheat]], [[millet]], and [[rice]] are eaten around the world. The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family in modern times. They are used for [[forage]], [[building materials]] ([[bamboo]], [[thatch]]) and [[fuel]] ([[ethanol]]), as well as food.

[[Rushes]] and [[sedges]] fall outside this family, but are commonly referred to as grasses.

A silly little rhyme to remember the difference between grasses, rushes and sedges when trying to identify them:

''Sedges have edges''

''Rushes are round''

''Grasses have knees''

''that bend to the ground.''


== Uses==
Many species of grass have been cultivated and are a [[staple food]] for all of [[humanity]]. Without the [[cultivation]] of grasses and other plant families, we wouldn't survive as a species.

Grass can also be used as an improvised [[Fishing|fishing line]].<ref name=":0">[[wikihow:Fish-Without-Fishing-Gear|How to Fish Without Fishing Gear]] - WikiHow, 17 February 2022</ref>

== Some Notable Members ==

* Maize (corn)
* Wheat
* Millet
* Rice
* [[Barley]]
* [[Oat]]
* Bamboo
* [[Rye]]
* [[Farro]]
* [[Emmer]]
* [[Spelt]]

== See also ==
<div style="column-count:2">
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Pine]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Stick]]
* [[Wood]]
* [[Raw material]]
</div>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{wa|Poaceae}}

[[Category:Plant-derived raw materials]]

Plant

2025-05-08T02:24:23Z

TheHermit: added some links, fixed some grammar

Plants are multicellular [[organisms]] in the [[kingdom]] [[Plant kingdom|Plantae]], primarily known for their ability to perform [[photosynthesis]], a process that converts [[light energy]] into [[chemical energy]] using [[chlorophyll]]. They are primarily [[terrestrial]] but can also be found in [[aquatic]] environments. Plants are classified into two main groups: [[vascular plants]], which include [[trees]], [[shrubs]], and flowering plants, and [[non-vascular plants]], such as [[mosses]]. The [[plant kingdom]] is characterized by its diverse forms, ranging from tiny mosses to towering trees. Biologically, plants have [[specialized structures]] like [[roots]], [[stems]], and [[leaves]] that support their growth and [[reproduction]]. Their reproduction can be sexual, through [[seeds]] or [[spores]], or asexual, through vegetative methods. [[Taxonomy|Taxonomically]], plants belong to the clade Viridiplantae, which includes green plants (both land plants and green algae) and is further divided into various phyla such as Angiosperms (flowering plants) and Gymnosperms (non-flowering seed plants). Plants play a crucial role in the Earth's ecosystems, providing [[oxygen]], [[food]], and [[habitat]] for many organisms.

[[Botany]] is the scientific study of plants, encompassing all aspects of plant life, from their microscopic cellular structures to their ecological roles and [[Evolution|evolutionary]] history. It's a branch of [[biology]] focused on plants while also studying [[algae]], [[fungi]], and related organisms. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2th5lAd-77A&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOhFQOVdutRTxvUI1UeCcax&index=2</ref>

Fungi

2025-05-08T02:18:21Z

TheHermit: added some links

All organisms in the [[kingdom]] fungi including [[yeast]], [[mold]], [[mushrooms]] and more. Fungi are unicellular or multicellular [[decomposers]] often composed of hyphae that breakdown and digest [[organic material]] externally before being absorbed.<ref>Alexopoulos, Constantine John, Ahmadjian, Vernon, Moore, David. "fungus". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2025, <nowiki>https://www.britannica.com/science/fungus</nowiki>. Accessed 5 May 2025.</ref>

== References ==

Food

2025-05-08T02:15:21Z

TheHermit: added some links, fixed some grammar

[[File:Good Food Display - NCI Visuals Online.jpg|thumb|350px|Display of various foods]]

'''Food''' is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of [[plant]], [[animal]], or [[Fungi|fungal]] origin, and contains essential [[nutrients]], such as [[carbohydrates]], [[fats]], [[proteins]], [[vitamins]], or [[minerals]]. The substance is ingested by an [[organism]] and assimilated by the organism's cells to provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth. Different species of animals have different feeding behaviours that satisfy the needs of their unique [[metabolism]]<nowiki/>s, often evolved to fill a specific ecological niche within specific geographical contexts.

Humans eat various food substances for enjoyment and nutritional support. Omnivorous humans are highly adaptable and have adapted to obtain food in many different ecosystems. Historically, humans secured food through two main methods: [[hunting]] and [[gathering]] and [[Farming|agriculture]]. As agricultural technologies increased, humans settled into agriculture lifestyles with diets shaped by the agriculture opportunities in their geography. Geographic and cultural differences has led to creation of numerous cuisines and culinary arts, including a wide array of ingredients, [[herbs]], [[spices]], techniques, and dishes. As cultures have mixed through forces like international trade and globalization, ingredients have become more widely available beyond their geographic and cultural origins, creating a cosmopolitan exchange of different food traditions and practices.

The majority of the food energy required is supplied by the industrial food industry, which produces food with intensive agriculture and distributes it through complex food processing and [[food distribution systems]]. The food system has significant impacts on a wide range of other social and political issues including: [[sustainability]], [[biological diversity]], economics, population growth, water supply, and [[access to food]].

Humanity has developed [[food preservation]] processes over the years, which make food more resistant to microorganism growth and slow the oxidation of fats, slowing down the decomposition and rancidification process.

==Dependencies==
*[[Cooking]]
**[[Heat]]
**[[Water]]
*[[Farming]]
*[[Fishing]]
*[[Gathering]]
*[[Hunting]]
**'''Food'''
**[[Sugar]]
***[[Food preservation]]

==See also==
* [[Canning]]
* [[Medicine]]
* [[Pot-in-pot refrigerator]]
* [[Refrigeration]]

==References==
{{wa|Food}}
{{wa|Human_food}}

[[Category:Food]]

Cereal crops

2025-05-08T02:09:47Z

TheHermit: yarfed some more plant stuff

A '''cereal''' '''crop''' is a [[Grasses|grass]] [[Cultivation|cultivated]] for its [[edible]] [[grain]]. Cereals are the world's largest [[crops]], and are therefore [[staple foods]]. They include [[rice]], [[wheat]], [[rye]], [[Oat|oats]], [[barley]], [[millet]], and [[maize]]. Edible grains from other [[plant families]], such as [[buckwheat]] and [[quinoa]], are [[Pseudocereals|pseudo-cereals]]. Most cereals are [[Annual|annuals]], producing one crop from each planting, though rice is sometimes grown as a [[perennial]]. [[Winter]] [[varieties]] are [[Hardy plants|hardy]] enough to be planted in the [[autumn]], becoming [[dormant]] in the winter, and harvested in [[spring]] or early [[summer]]; spring varieties are planted in spring and harvested in late summer.

Cereals were [[Domestication|domesticated]] in the [[Neolithic Era]] around 8,000 years ago. Different species were domesticated in different parts of the world, in turn creating a rich, diverse variety of cereal crops found all over. One of the main [[Pillars of Culture]] is [[food]], and the traditions around growing, preparing, and sharing it. Cereal and pseudo-cereals being staples foods means that they have had a huge impact on [[culture]], and their diversity shows in all of the different ways we prepare them.

From [[tortillas]] to [[sourdough]] to the cereal boxes we find on grocery store shelves, we can see how these crops impact us. Cereals were chosen as staples because of their diverse nature and ability to create high starch food. Not only are they high in starch, they're yummy too. And so, they became staples.

Plants - like people - are diverse in nature. The wheat that was grown in Italy 500 years ago was, in fact, wheat, but it was different than the wheat that was grown in France. And so how they prepared their wheat and what they turned it into was unique in its own way, and for a variety of reasons. Diversity is like a fractal - the more you look at it, the more you see.

Before globalization, when the world felt much larger, and distant places were not so easy to get to, if one traveled around the world one would see that there were different types of plants - and therefore food - found all over the place. Some plants one would only see in that place, and others would look quite familiar, albeit different in their own way.

Wheat and barley were originally [[European & South Asian Plant Domestication|domesticated in the Fertile Crescent;]] rice was [[Asian Plant Domestication|domesticated in East Asia]], and [[sorghum]] and millet were [[African Plant Domestication|domesticated in West Africa]]. Maize was [[North & South American Plant Domestication|domesticated by Indigenous peoples of the Americas in southern Mexico]] about 9,000 years ago.

Many species of this plant family have their own

Cereals provide food eaten directly as [[whole grains]], usually [[Cooking|cooked]], or they are [[Grinding Food|ground]] to [[flour]] and made into [[bread]], [[porridge]], or other products. Cereals have a high [[starch]] content, enabling them to be [[Fermentation|fermented]] into [[alcoholic drinks]] such as [[beer]]. Cereal [[farming]] has a substantial environmental impact, and is often produced in high-intensity [[monocultures]]. The environmental harms can be mitigated by [[Sustainability|sustainable]] practices which reduce the impact on [[Soils|soil]] and improve [[biodiversity]], such as [[no-till farming]] and [[intercropping]]. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cereal

</ref>

== Some Cereal Crops & Pseudo-Cereal Crops ==

* Barley
* Oats
* Wheat
* Sorghum
* Maize (Corn)
* Millet
* Rice
* Rye
* Quinoa
* Triticale
* Fonio
* Buckewheat
* Teff
* Wild Rice
* Amaranth
* Einkorn
* Durum Wheat

== Effects on the Environment ==
Cereal production has a substantial impact on the environment. [[Tilling|Tillage]] can lead to [[soil erosion]] and increased [[runoff]]. [[Irrigation]] consumes large quantities of water; its extraction from [[lakes]], [[rivers]], or [[aquifers]] may have multiple environmental effects, such as lowering the [[water table]] and cause [[salination]] of aquifers. [[Fertilizer]] production contributes to [[global warming]], and its use can lead to [[pollution]] and [[eutrophication]] of waterways. [[Arable farming]] uses large amounts of [[fossil fuel]], releasing [[greenhouse gases]] which contribute to global warming. [[Pesticide]] usage can cause harm to [[wildlife]], such as to [[bees]].

Some of the impacts of growing cereals can be mitigated by changing production practices. Tillage can be reduced by [[no-till farming]], such as by [[direct drilling]] of cereal seeds, or by developing and planting [[perennial]] crop varieties so that annual tilling is not required. Rice can be grown as a [[ratoon crop]]; and other researchers are exploring perennial cool-season cereals, such as [[kernza]], being developed in the US.

Fertilizer and pesticide usage may be reduced in some [[polycultures]], growing several crops in a single field at the same time. Fossil fuel-based [[nitrogen fertilizer]] usage can be reduced by [[intercropping]] cereals with [[legumes]] which [[Nitrogen Fixation|fix nitrogen]]. Greenhouse gas emissions may be cut further by more efficient irrigation or by water harvesting methods like [[contour trenching]] that reduce the need for irrigation, and by [[breeding]] new crop varieties.

== Uses ==

=== Direct consumption ===
Some cereals such as rice require little [[Food Preperation|preparation]] before human consumption. For example, to make plain cooked rice, raw [[milled rice]] is washed and boiled. Foods such as [[porridge]] and [[muesli]] may be made largely of [[whole cereals]], especially oats, whereas commercial breakfast cereals such as [[granola]] may be highly [[Processed Food|processed]] and combined with [[sugars]], [[oils]], and other products.

=== Flour-based foods ===
Main article: [[Flour]]

Cereals can be ground to make flour. [[Wheat flour]] is the main ingredient of [[bread]] and [[pasta]]. [[Maize flour]] has been important in [[Mesoamerica]] since ancient times, with foods such as Mexican [[tortillas]] and [[tamales]]. [[Rye flour]] is a constituent of bread in central and northern Europe, while [[rice flour]] is common in Asia.

A cereal grain consists of starchy [[endosperm]], [[germ]], and [[bran]]. [[Wholemeal flour]] contains all of these; [[white flour]] is without some or all of the germ or bran.

=== Alcohol ===
Further information: [[Beer]] and [[Ethanol]] [[fermentation]]

Because cereals have a high starch content, they are often used to make industrial alcohol and [[alcoholic drinks]] by [[fermentation]]. For instance, beer is produced by [[brewing]] and fermenting starch, mainly from cereal grains—most commonly [[malted barley]]. [[Rice wine]]<nowiki/>s such as Japanese [[sake]] are brewed in Asia; a fermented rice and honey wine was made in China some 9,000 years ago.

=== Animal feed ===
Further information: [[Animal feed]]

Cereals and their related [[byproducts]] such as [[hay]] are routinely fed to [[farm animals]]. Common cereals as animal food include maize, barley, wheat, and oats. Moist grains may be treated chemically or made into [[silage]]; mechanically flattened or crimped, and kept in airtight storage until used; or stored dry with a moisture content of less than 14%. Commercially, grains are often combined with other materials and formed into feed pellets.

== Nutrition ==

=== Whole-grain and processed ===
As whole grains, cereals provide [[carbohydrates]], polyunsaturated [[fats]], [[protein]], [[vitamins]], and [[minerals]]. When processed by the removal of the bran and germ, all that remains is the starchy endosperm.

=== Amino acid balance ===
Further information: Complete protein and Protein combining

Some cereals are deficient in the essential [[amino acid]] [[lysine]], obliging [[vegetarian]] cultures to combine their [[diet]] of cereal grains with [[legumes]] to obtain a balanced diet. Many legumes, however, are deficient in the essential amino acid [[methionine]], which grains contain. Thus, a combination of legumes with grains forms a well-balanced diet for vegetarians. Such combinations include [[dal]] ([[lentils]]) with rice by South Indians and Bengalis, [[beans]] with maize tortillas, [[tofu]] with rice, and [[peanut butter]] with wholegrain wheat bread (as sandwiches) in several other cultures, including the Americas. For feeding animals, the amount of crude protein measured in grains is expressed as grain crude protein concentration.

Grasses

2025-05-07T20:25:13Z

TheHermit: I'm being nitpicky.

[[File:Grasses in the Valles Caldera 2014-06-26.JPG|thumb|250px|Wind-blown grass in the Valles Caldera in New Mexico, United States]]

'''Grasses''' are a group of [[plant]] [[species]] that include grasses of natural [[grassland]] and species cultivated in [[lawns]] and [[pasture]]. Grasslands such as [[savanna]] and [[prairie]] where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the [[Earth]], excluding [[Greenland]] and [[Antarctica]]. Grasses are also an important part of the [[vegetation]] in many other [[habitats]], including [[wetlands]], [[forests]] and [[tundra]].

"Grass" is a colloquial name for members of the [[Poaceae]] [[plant family]]. They include some domesticated [[cereal crops]] such as [[maize]] (corn), [[wheat]], [[millet]], and [[rice]] are eaten around the world. The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family in modern times. They are used for [[forage]], [[building materials]] ([[bamboo]], [[thatch]]) and [[fuel]] ([[ethanol]]), as well as food.

[[Rushes]] and [[sedges]] fall outside this family, but are commonly referred to as grasses.

A silly little rhyme to remember the difference between grasses, rushes and sedges when trying to identify them:

''Sedges have edges''

''Rushes are round''

''Grasses have knees''

''that bend to the ground.''

== Uses==
Many species of grass have been cultivated and are a [[staple food]] for all of [[humanity]]. Without the [[cultivation]] of grasses and other plant families, we wouldn't survive as a species.

Grass can also be used as an improvised [[Fishing|fishing line]].<ref name=":0">[[wikihow:Fish-Without-Fishing-Gear|How to Fish Without Fishing Gear]] - WikiHow, 17 February 2022</ref>

== Some Notable Members ==

* Maize (corn)
* Wheat
* Millet
* Rice
* [[Barley]]
* [[Oat]]
* Bamboo
* [[Rye]]
* [[Farro]]
* [[Emmer]]
* [[Spelt]]

== See also ==
<div style="column-count:2">
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Pine]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Stick]]
* [[Wood]]
* [[Raw material]]
</div>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{wa|Poaceae}}

[[Category:Plant-derived raw materials]]

Grasses

2025-05-07T19:58:57Z

TheHermit: Added a few links I meant to get to for when I inevitably become more specific

[[File:Grasses in the Valles Caldera 2014-06-26.JPG|thumb|250px|Wind-blown grass in the Valles Caldera in New Mexico, United States]]

'''Grasses''' are a group of [[plant]] [[species]] that include grasses of natural [[grassland]] and species cultivated in [[lawns]] and [[pasture]]. Grasslands such as [[savanna]] and [[prairie]] where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the [[Earth]], excluding [[Greenland]] and [[Antarctica]]. Grasses are also an important part of the [[vegetation]] in many other [[habitats]], including [[wetlands]], [[forests]] and [[tundra]].

"Grass" is a colloquial name for members of the [[Poaceae]] [[plant family]]. They include domesticated [[cereal crops]] such as [[maize]] (corn), [[wheat]], [[millet]], and [[rice]] are eaten around the world. The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family in modern times. They are used for [[forage]], [[building materials]] ([[bamboo]], [[thatch]]) and [[fuel]] ([[ethanol]]), as well as food.

[[Rushes]] and [[sedges]] fall outside this family, but are commonly referred to as grasses.

A silly little rhyme to remember the difference between grasses, rushes and sedges when trying to identify them:

''Sedges have edges''

''Rushes are round''

''Grasses have knees''

''that bend to the ground.''

== Uses==
Many species of grass have been cultivated and are a [[staple food]] for all of [[humanity]]. Without the [[cultivation]] of grasses and other plant families, we wouldn't survive as a species.

Grass can also be used as an improvised [[Fishing|fishing line]].<ref name=":0">[[wikihow:Fish-Without-Fishing-Gear|How to Fish Without Fishing Gear]] - WikiHow, 17 February 2022</ref>

== Some Notable Members ==

* Maize (corn)
* Wheat
* Millet
* Rice
* [[Barley]]
* [[Oat]]
* Bamboo
* [[Rye]]
* [[Farro]]
* [[Emmer]]
* [[Spelt]]

== See also ==
<div style="column-count:2">
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Pine]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Stick]]
* [[Wood]]
* [[Raw material]]
</div>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{wa|Poaceae}}

[[Category:Plant-derived raw materials]]

Grasses

2025-05-07T19:56:06Z

TheHermit: yarfed some plant knowledge all over the screen. Don't worry I'll clean it up.

[[File:Grasses in the Valles Caldera 2014-06-26.JPG|thumb|250px|Wind-blown grass in the Valles Caldera in New Mexico, United States]]

'''Grasses''' are a group of [[plant]] [[species]] that include grasses of natural [[grassland]] and species cultivated in [[lawns]] and [[pasture]]. Grasslands such as [[savanna]] and [[prairie]] where grasses are dominant are estimated to constitute 40.5% of the land area of the [[Earth]], excluding [[Greenland]] and [[Antarctica]]. Grasses are also an important part of the [[vegetation]] in many other [[habitats]], including [[wetlands]], [[forests]] and [[tundra]].

"Grass" is a colloquial name for members of the [[Poaceae]] [[plant family]]. They include domesticated [[cereal crops]] such as [[maize]] (corn), [[wheat]], [[millet]], and [[rice]] are eaten around the world. The Poaceae are the most economically important plant family in modern times. They are used for [[forage]], [[building materials]] ([[bamboo]], [[thatch]]) and [[fuel]] ([[ethanol]]), as well as food.

[[Rushes]] and [[sedges]] fall outside this family, but are commonly referred to as grasses.

A silly little rhyme to remember the difference between grasses, rushes and sedges when trying to identify them:

''Sedges have edges''

''Rushes are round''

''Grasses have knees''

''that bend to the ground.''

== Uses==
Many species of grass have been cultivated and are a [[staple food]] for all of [[humanity]]. Without the [[cultivation]] of grasses and other plant families, we wouldn't survive as a species.

Grass can also be used as an improvised [[Fishing|fishing line]].<ref name=":0">[[wikihow:Fish-Without-Fishing-Gear|How to Fish Without Fishing Gear]] - WikiHow, 17 February 2022</ref>

== Some Notable Members ==

* Maize (corn)
* Wheat
* Millet
* Rice
* Barley
* Oat
* Bamboo
* Rye
* Farro
* Emmer
* Spelt

== See also ==
<div style="column-count:2">
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Hemp]]
* [[Pine]]
* [[Rubber]]
* [[Stick]]
* [[Wood]]
* [[Raw material]]
</div>

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{wa|Poaceae}}

[[Category:Plant-derived raw materials]]

Trees

2025-05-07T19:45:48Z

TheHermit: the nerdy info dump of plants and their cultivation is only beginning. I created this tree page. I birthed it into existence. Just you wait and see what's yet to come. You're going to learn about plants. And you're going to like it

In botany, a tree is ''a [[perennial]] [[plant]] with an elongated [[stem]], or [[trunk]]'', usually supporting [[branches]] and leaves.

Plant

2025-05-07T19:11:06Z

TheHermit: Starting point for explanation of plant identification, with a focus on edible and useful plants, and link to related concepts/ ancient technological advancements necessary to humanity's development. example: Nixtamalization.I am a big anthropology/ethnobotany nerd.

a living organism of the kind exemplified by [[trees]], [[shrubs]], [[herbs]], [[grasses]], [[ferns]], and [[mosses]], typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by [[photosynthesis]] using the green pigment [[chlorophyll]].<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plants</ref>

[[Botany]] is the scientific study of plants, encompassing all aspects of plant life, from their microscopic cellular structures to their ecological roles and [[Evolution|evolutionary]] history. It's a branch of [[biology]] focused on plants while also studying [[algae]], [[fungi]], and related organisms. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2th5lAd-77A&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOhFQOVdutRTxvUI1UeCcax&index=2</ref>