1. a traditional Mesoamerican agricultural system where corn, beans, and squash are grown together on the same plot
Usage: anthropology; agriculture
2. a field or plot of land used for this type of farming
Usage: anthropology; agriculture

Examples

• The Maya have practiced milpa farming for thousands of years.
• In the milpa system, beans climb the corn stalks while squash spreads along the ground.
• The farmer cleared a new milpa in the forest for next season’s crops.
• Traditional milpa agriculture requires rotating fields every few years.
• The three sisters crops of the milpa provide a balanced diet.
• Indigenous communities still maintain their ancestral milpa practices.