Domestication: The process of selectively breeding plants or animals to make them more useful to humans.
Domestication is like gently guiding wild plants or animals over generations to become more suited to our needs. It involves choosing individuals with desirable traits, like larger fruits or a calmer temperament, and breeding them together. Over time, these traits become more pronounced, resulting in plants and animals that are dependent on humans for their survival and that are significantly different from their wild ancestors.
In the context of a home garden, domestication is why we have many different varieties of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Centuries of selective breeding have given us juicier tomatoes, more fragrant roses, and countless other improvements in the plants we grow. Understanding that our garden plants are the result of domestication helps us appreciate the long history of agriculture and the careful work of plant breeders who have shaped the plants we enjoy today.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as health, wellness or nutrition advice. Please see our full disclaimers here.
« Back to Glossary Index