192 

 harvesting (Figure 6-1). These activities frequently overlapped in time and collectively occurred 

 throughout the year. 



Initial site clearing occurred primarily during January-April and consisted of using an axe or 

 machete to cut down brush and small trees (Figure 6-1). Large trees usually were not cut down, while 

 medium-sized trees usually were cut at waist height (A. Tuz Novelo, pers. comm.). The brush and 

 small trees were left to dry at the site. Clearing occurred over several weeks. Some gardeners cleared 

 sites as late as April-June. 



Gardens individually were burned on a single day-usually in an aftemoon-and collectively 

 were burned during the month of April (Figure 6-1). Gardeners carefully timed the blaze to maximize 

 bum completeness and ash production, thus facilitating planting and increasing soil fertility. If the bum 

 took place too early in the season, gardeners indicated, the brush and trees would resprout and the ash 

 would blow away with the wind. If the bum took place after the rains had begun, the blaze likely 

 would be incomplete and little ash would be available to fertilize the garden. Gardeners rarely 

 attempted to rebum areas that did not bum initially (M. Cab Cohuo, pers. comm.). The quality of a 

 bum was extremely important as an incomplete or improperly timed bum would reduce crop yields and 

 make planting more difficult. 



There were two planting periods: an intense period during May-July and another period during 

 the rest of the year when seeds were sown at irregular intervals (Figure 6-1). During the fu-st period, 

 squash (Cucurbita pepo), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), bean (Phaseolus spp.), lentil (Lens 

 esculeiua), yam {Dioscorea sp.), and com {Zea mays) were the main crops planted. During the second 

 period, jlcama (Pachyrrhizus erosus) was the main crop planted, while some macal and ibes (Phaseolus 

 lunatus) seeds also were planted at this time. The main planting usually took about 1-2 weeks per 

 garden and began after heavy rains had thoroughly moistened the soil (F. Balam Can, pers. comm.). 

 Usually a mixture of seeds was sown throughout the garden. Often, however, seeds such asji'cama, 

 lentils, and chili (Capsicum annuum) were specifically planted in a small part of the garden that had 

 better soil and was better tended than the rest of the site. 



