The following is a list of subsistence techniques:
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Hunting and Gathering, also known as Foraging
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freeganism involves gathering of discarded food in the context of an urban environment
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gleaning involves the gathering of food that traditional farmers have left behind in their fields
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Cultivation
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Horticulture
- plant cultivation, based on the use of simple tools.
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Agriculture
- cultivation involving continuous use of crop land, and is more labor-intensive than horticulture.
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Pastoralism
- the raising of grazing animals
- Pastoral nomadism: all members of the pastoral society follow the herd throughout the year.
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Transhumance or agro-pastoralism : part of the society follows the herd, while the other part maintains a home village.
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Ranch agriculture: non-nomadic pastoralism with a defined territory
- Alternative ends
- people devote their time, resources, and energy to five broad categories of ends: subsistence, replacement, social, ceremonial, and rent.
- Subsistence fund : work is done to replace calories lost through life activities.
- Replacement fund : work is expended maintaining the technology necessary for life.
- Social fund : work is expended to establish and maintain social ties.
- Ceremonial fund : work is expended to fulfill ritual obligations.
- Rent fund : work is expended to satisfy the obligations owed political or economic superiors.
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Distribution and Exchange
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Redistribution
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Reciprocity
- exchange between social equals.
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Potlatching
- a widely studied ritual in which sponsors (helped by their entourages) gave away resources and manufactured wealth while generating prestige for themselves.
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LETS - Local Exchange Trading Systems.
See also
Last updated: 05-21-2005 02:11:52