An exploration, in seminar format, of the historical aspects of the production of food and fibre, concentrating on the North American experience but preceded by anthropological and other evidence from both the New and Old Worlds. The evolution of rural settlements; the development of forest, range, and crop land used; the relationship of technology to rural societies; and the nurturing of rurality. Particular emphasis on the visual and spatial attributes of different agricultural regimes as well as their depiction in the visual arts.