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Students Baking During the Wine &
Bread Lab.
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Between plants and our species
there is history of interplay where both parties influence and evolve in the
context of the other. This co-evolution is biological, then sociological and
finally political. This constant flux demands a holistic approach with a
systems emphasis. These patterns, summarized below, are taken in a
chronological sequence. Plants in human evolution, crop domestication and
ancient cities, historical plants of wars and human migration, plants making
America and the Industrial Revolution, modern agriculture, economic plants
and sociology, our ecological crisis the cure is not a return to nature. The
lectures relate to the twentieth century human experience. They are designed
to be relevant biology for the humanities student with relevant humanities
for the agriculturalists, to stimulate as well as to inform.
When humans are part of an
investigation, scientists often over-emphasize the actions of individual
humans; they identify with the humans in the scientific model. Individual
human experience will not receive much attention in this course. Emphasis
will be on the cultural and political evolution of man with plants. When
dealing with large scale questions I will endeavor to use large scale explanations.
I hope the course will leave you feeling excited and uneasy with new
questions that you must ask of yourself as to your role as a person, as a
member of a culture and as part of a species in the Biosphere.
On a required term project,
required in-class exams, optional oral, and optional take-home, the student's
best performance generally makes up the greatest portion of the final grade.
