Slash-and-char

Okay kiddo, have you ever gone camping and made a campfire? Well, when people make a campfire, they usually cut and gather some branches, leaves, and dry grass all around to start the fire. Right? That's what slash-and-char are, basically it's just like starting a campfire.

But wait, there's more! Slash-and-char is a type of farming technique that was used a long time ago and is still used in some parts of the world today, especially in places where people don't have a lot of resources. It's a way of preparing the land to grow crops without using modern tools and fertilizers.

So, first, farmers cut down trees and bushes in an area where they want to grow crops, just like how you gather branches for your campfire. This is called "slashing". Then, they let everything dry out for several weeks or even months. This makes the plants much easier to burn.

Finally, they set the land on fire. The fire burns away all the plants and vegetation, leaving only the ashes behind. The ashes are like a natural fertilizer that makes the soil more fertile, which means it's better for growing crops. This process is called "char". The ash also helps the soil hold more water and nutrients.

After the burn, farmers can plant their crops in the newly fertile soil. They don't need to use chemical fertilizers because the ash provides all the nutrients the crops need. This saves the farmers money and protects the environment because chemicals can be harmful to people and animals.

So, slash-and-char is like starting a campfire, but instead of cooking marshmallows, it helps farmers grow crops without using expensive chemicals. Pretty cool, huh?