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 to household in that members have a close economic and social relationship. Garden group thus 

 recognizes that gardeners may or may not be related and may or may not live together as a family unit. 



During this study, garden was used for the Spanish term milpa to identify the plot of land 

 away from the house compound where crops such as com were planted. Milpas are different from 

 solares, which are located within the house compound and include a great variety of important annual 

 and perennial plants (Forrest, 1991). 



Soil Type of Gardens and Transects 



Soil type is an important factor in determining the potential crop production of a garden. In 

 addition, soil type will determine, in part, the type of forest that regenerates in a garden placed in 

 fallow. Soil type was determined by a local forester for the seven selected gardens (garden numbers 5- 

 11) and the eleven associated transects (transect numbers 2-12; see Figure 4-1), based on 0.5 kg 

 samples collected from the track slicks (see description, below). Identification, using Maya soil 

 terminology, was based on soil color, texture, and size of grains. 



Garden Size. Location, and Distance from X-Hazil Sur 



Garden size is important in determining the amount of crops potentially available to wildlife. 

 Location is important in determining the distribution and abundance of gardens around the village 

 where gardeners live. Distance from X-Hazil Sur is important to gardeners in considering the trade- 

 offs between time and effort. For example, gardeners who prefer to plant near the village have shorter 

 travel times, but may have increased competition with other gardeners for favorable sites. On the other 

 hand, gardeners who prefer to plant at greater distances from X-Hazil Sur have longer travel times, but 

 may have reduced competition for sites. 



The determination of garden size was based, in part, on information provided by gardeners 

 during the interviews. The basic unit of measurement reported by gardeners was the mecate. The 

 mecate had a dual function in that it described a linear measurement of 20 m, as well as a square area 



