ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ribbon farm

A ribbon farm is a long and narrow stretch of land that is used for farming. Think of it like a really long and skinny garden that can go on for a really long distance. Unlike a regular farm, which is usually square or rectangular, a ribbon farm is shaped like a ribbon or a strip of land that runs alongside a river, trail, road or railroad.

The reason for the ribbon shape is that it allows farmers to irrigate their crops more easily. Irrigation is when you bring water to your crops because there isn't enough rainfall. With a ribbon farm, the farmer can take water from the river and distribute it evenly along their entire strip of land. This way, every plant gets the right amount of water to grow healthy and strong.

Another advantage of ribbon farms is that they save space. In the past, when land was scarce, people built their farms in long, skinny strips so that more people could have access to fertile land. This is still true in some parts of the world where land is expensive or hard to come by.

Overall, ribbon farms are an efficient and space-saving way to grow crops, and they have been used for centuries by farmers all over the world.