3 – They Had a Scientific Method of Farming
Given their mountainous surroundings, the Inca didn’t have the benefit of level fields for farming so they came up with an innovative solution. Terrace farming helped create arable land and the terraces were constructed in such a way as to give each crop the best chance of surviving. Another challenge was the fact that the empire spanned four climate zones but yet again, the Inca succeeded and the result was diversity of produce.
The Inca had a specific method of creating their terraces. First of all, stone retaining walls were built to absorb the sun’s heat during the day and radiate it at night. This process helped prevent crops from freezing during cold nights. A base layer of medium-sized gravel was used to fill every terrace while more gravel and fine sand were added on top. The steps were finished off with a layer of topsoil; the farmers would then place the seeds of their crops in this soil. Different crops were placed on each step and the Inca grew a wide range of food including potatoes, corn, quinoa, cashews, cucumber, avocado and much more.
If the terraces were unproductive, the Inca used Plan B which was known as ‘the three sisters’. Step one involved planting corn and once it reached a certain height, they would grow beans in the same ground which would grow up the stalks of the corn. Squash was then planted in the remaining space. The end result was three crops grown in a small space. What was so clever about this method is that the beans made nitrogen available as a nutrient for the corn while the squash kept the soil moist and relatively free from weeds.
There were tens of thousands of storehouses (called qollqa) built across the empire which were designed to hold surplus food. These qollqa were built on hillsides in order to benefit from cool breezes and were designed to keep food fresh for as long as possible. This was achieved by building gravel flooring and drainage channels while having ventilation on the roof and floor. This kept the inside of the qollqa cool and dry enough to store goods for up to two years while certain foodstuffs could be freeze-dried and kept in the store for up to four years. During crop failures, rulers would give maize and cocoa to the masses as a means of keeping them onside.