How big should farms be?

[Midgardsormr]

For a contrast to the traditional European agricultural style, there is also swidden agriculture, otherwise known as "slash and burn." Data from here: http://lucy.ukc.ac.uk/sonja/rf/ukpr/Report62.htm

indicates that the Semai of Malaysia require approximately one acre of land to feed two people. The fields are cleared and burned over a three-month period, then planted continually for 1 - 2 years, then left fallow for at least 12 years to allow the forest to grow back.

This kind of agriculture is practiced by a number of aboriginal people in South America, as well. Among the Waorani, each family is responsible for feeding itself, and very little food is left over for sale or sharing. Among most of these societies, no one owns land—whoever prepares a swidden owns it only as long as they are cultivating it. The next time around, a different family might be farming on that land.

[Sigurd]

Don't forget that farmers are not the only ones that eat from the harvest. To feed the gentry and the higher ups, you need a lot of farms.

Oh yeah, also Bill Stickers ate my baby!