Seasons and agriculture on Bothea
You may want to know how time passes on Bothea and how Yevatem months work before reading this page.
Reading this page is completely optional for your understanding of the universe and is simply here as bonus content. (As usual, any picture here can be used for free in your YVVO projects. These AI generated images didn't steal artworks, read why in the rules! Click on the frescos to be redirected to bigger files.) Introduction If you came here to learn about Yevatem's agriculture, you might be disappointed: it's not very developed. Or rather, it takes very different shapes than agriculture on Earth. Don't imagine huge, squary fields on Bothea, for this doesn't exist; instead, a lush forest of fruit trees near a village might have been fully planted by Yevatem! After all, crops would require flat lands, which is very rare on Bothea. Yevatem get most of their food through hunting-gathering, but since they always hunt and pick food at the same places, they will tend to plant fruit trees both to gather more and to attract more animals. The warm temperatures ensure them to have fruits and vegetables for a huge part of the cycle. |
Seasons
Here's the Yevat calendar to remind you of the Bothean months (placed like a Gregorian/human one so it's easier to understand; but otherwise it's most often in the shape fo a circle or a swirl.)
Colors explanation:
Light blue: Cold days
Green: Spring
Dark blue: thunder / natural disasters
Red: Hot days
Orange: autumn-like days
Colors explanation:
Light blue: Cold days
Green: Spring
Dark blue: thunder / natural disasters
Red: Hot days
Orange: autumn-like days
A cycle lasts approx 5 humans years, and through this time, a total of seven seasons give a rhythm to Yevatem's life. They are divided as such:
1. Nyotegaiem - "Blooming days," "Spring" - End of Yesma + first half of Kosma
Trees know their most important growth during this season, many flowers sprout, and life is good. Many animals experience a period of heat and will attempt to reproduce. The heat also affects Varveleilem a lot, and Yevatem to a smaller degree (it will depend on individuals - some will be more sensitive to it than others.)
2. Truumgaiem - "Thunder season" - Second half of Kosma + first half of Rasma
As its name indicates, this season is known for its numerous thunderstorms at the surface. Some will come with rain, others will be rainless. Purple clouds swirl and Bothea pours water and fire from the sky.
3. Nyotegaiemtaak - "Blooming days again," "the second spring" - Second half of Rasma + first half of Lusma
Having enjoyed the water from the Truumgaiem season, many plants thrive, and spread more seeds as soon as the weather calms. Many baby animals will be born during this season. Animals who couldn't find a mate during the "first spring" will attempt to mate again. Varveleilem who don't find mates during this second spring are known to be especially violent during this season due to their hormones not regulating.
4. Overuagaiem - "The hottest days," "summer" - Second half of Lusma, all Fasma, and a little of Sesma
It's the hottest period of the cycle. It can be compared to summer on Earth. Fire is easy to spread and hard to control, so firecamps are restricted, or allowed during the nights only. Yevatem tend to sleep more during the day, and to be more active at night during this period. The expected temperatures are 40 to 60°C [100 to 140°F] at the surface, 30°C to 50°C [85 to 120°F] in the undergrounds; thankfully Bothea and its life are used to such temperatures (a Human would have a hard time, however.) The iced poles (underground only) are stabilized at 0°C [30°F], but ice greatly reduces in size.
5. Rokgaiem - "Rough days," "season of the natural disasters" - Mostly Sesma
The temperature become more bearable. For some reason, Bothea seems to provoke more natural disasters during this period (earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, undergroud floodings, tornadoes, sandstorms etc.) Varveleilem are especially sensitive to this period and can feel disasters coming in advance.
6. Samagaiem - "Orange days," "fall/autumn" - Disma plus Posma
The calmest and the most comfortable months are during this period. The weather and temperatures are ideal, the fauna and flora thrive, and the food comes in abundance. Many trees and other flora are known to get an orange, red or yellow tint during this period, giving its name to the season. Some trees will also lose all their leaves, but not all of them.
7. Vikajgaiem - "Cold days," "winter" - Misma, Dezasma, and a part of Yesma
The weather is colder, and the days are shorter. Cold winds are more present. But don't expect to see snow, however: Bothea remains a hot planet where Yevatem can wander without clothes if they want to, even during this season. Nights are espcially colder (even in the desert) so Yevatem will tend to be more active during the day, and take naps in warm places and by the fire during the nights. The expected temperatures are 10 to 30°C [50 to 85°F] at the surface, 0°C to 20°C [30 to 70°F] in the undergrounds (it's really cold for a Yevat.) The iced underground poles and the deepest caves might even reach -20°C [-5°F]. Plants and animals that live only one cycle often die during this period.
Animals migrations often occur during Kosma and Sesma; the animals will try to avoid thunderstorms and natural disasters, and will often join the poles before the hot days and the equator before the cold days. This way, they often spare themselves rough life conditions. Some Yevatem, sometimes tribes and merchants (but not always), love to follow these animals to live in good conditions too. But a majority of Yevatem remain in the village or city they live.
1. Nyotegaiem - "Blooming days," "Spring" - End of Yesma + first half of Kosma
Trees know their most important growth during this season, many flowers sprout, and life is good. Many animals experience a period of heat and will attempt to reproduce. The heat also affects Varveleilem a lot, and Yevatem to a smaller degree (it will depend on individuals - some will be more sensitive to it than others.)
2. Truumgaiem - "Thunder season" - Second half of Kosma + first half of Rasma
As its name indicates, this season is known for its numerous thunderstorms at the surface. Some will come with rain, others will be rainless. Purple clouds swirl and Bothea pours water and fire from the sky.
3. Nyotegaiemtaak - "Blooming days again," "the second spring" - Second half of Rasma + first half of Lusma
Having enjoyed the water from the Truumgaiem season, many plants thrive, and spread more seeds as soon as the weather calms. Many baby animals will be born during this season. Animals who couldn't find a mate during the "first spring" will attempt to mate again. Varveleilem who don't find mates during this second spring are known to be especially violent during this season due to their hormones not regulating.
4. Overuagaiem - "The hottest days," "summer" - Second half of Lusma, all Fasma, and a little of Sesma
It's the hottest period of the cycle. It can be compared to summer on Earth. Fire is easy to spread and hard to control, so firecamps are restricted, or allowed during the nights only. Yevatem tend to sleep more during the day, and to be more active at night during this period. The expected temperatures are 40 to 60°C [100 to 140°F] at the surface, 30°C to 50°C [85 to 120°F] in the undergrounds; thankfully Bothea and its life are used to such temperatures (a Human would have a hard time, however.) The iced poles (underground only) are stabilized at 0°C [30°F], but ice greatly reduces in size.
5. Rokgaiem - "Rough days," "season of the natural disasters" - Mostly Sesma
The temperature become more bearable. For some reason, Bothea seems to provoke more natural disasters during this period (earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, undergroud floodings, tornadoes, sandstorms etc.) Varveleilem are especially sensitive to this period and can feel disasters coming in advance.
6. Samagaiem - "Orange days," "fall/autumn" - Disma plus Posma
The calmest and the most comfortable months are during this period. The weather and temperatures are ideal, the fauna and flora thrive, and the food comes in abundance. Many trees and other flora are known to get an orange, red or yellow tint during this period, giving its name to the season. Some trees will also lose all their leaves, but not all of them.
7. Vikajgaiem - "Cold days," "winter" - Misma, Dezasma, and a part of Yesma
The weather is colder, and the days are shorter. Cold winds are more present. But don't expect to see snow, however: Bothea remains a hot planet where Yevatem can wander without clothes if they want to, even during this season. Nights are espcially colder (even in the desert) so Yevatem will tend to be more active during the day, and take naps in warm places and by the fire during the nights. The expected temperatures are 10 to 30°C [50 to 85°F] at the surface, 0°C to 20°C [30 to 70°F] in the undergrounds (it's really cold for a Yevat.) The iced underground poles and the deepest caves might even reach -20°C [-5°F]. Plants and animals that live only one cycle often die during this period.
Animals migrations often occur during Kosma and Sesma; the animals will try to avoid thunderstorms and natural disasters, and will often join the poles before the hot days and the equator before the cold days. This way, they often spare themselves rough life conditions. Some Yevatem, sometimes tribes and merchants (but not always), love to follow these animals to live in good conditions too. But a majority of Yevatem remain in the village or city they live.
Agriculture
Let's get this short: there's no agriculture on Bothea. At least, nothing that can be compared to the way humans plant and harvest!
Instead, Yevatem have their own ways to produce, harvest, and stock food for the cold days. Jungles and forests Yevatem mostly live from hunting-gathering. Many hunters and hunter-gatherers have the full-time jobs of briging food to their home town or city. It's probably the most common job on Bothea, that's why it's often taught to all teenagers, even if they don't end up being hunters or gatherers. In these regions, they mostly live of fruits, meat, and roots; which often comes in abundance. To avoid lacking resources, however, Yevatem tend to cut down "useless" trees, and to plant the ones they need in their place. They also plant a lot of bushes and fruits loved by animals to attract preys and incite them to reproduce in the hunting zones. Another full-time job is to entertain the forest and bushes all around the town or city. This is the closest Yevatem have to "crops" or "fields." Some Yevatem also plant a kind of cotton-tail plant which produce some kind of silk. They'll gather this silk and craft light clothes with it. When they plant such crops, it doesn't look like a human crop where everything is planted in straight lines. It's rather planted in zones with little rocks (so the roots can go deep) and a source of water in the nearby undergrounds. Some Yevatem breed animals for food, wool, or leather. They're rarer, however, for it's often an expensive activity. In meadows, Yevatem will often let the animals free, while they'll built fences using trees as fence posts in the forest, to protect their animals. |
Desert
In the desert, most Yevatem live underground. Only tribes dare to brave the roughest life conditions. It gives tribes a unique diet, based on a lot of meat (they hunt a lot,) bugs, and non poisonous succulents for hydration. As most tribes are known to be nomadic, they don't practice any kind of agriculture. Undergrounds Those who seldom see the suns live in the same conditions as the surface folks (with light differences), but can also add fishing to their activities. Most Yevatem Underground will feed on fishes and aquatic mammals, crustaceans, and algaes. In other words, they take everything that the sea has to offer. They also have some fruits, berries and roots from a leave-less flora, adapted to the darkness. Many regions are also known to plant and harvest mushrooms, which thrive in the darkness. Breeding animals is also less costly in the high layers of the undergrounds, for the water is abundant, and it's less likely to suffer from Varveleilem attacks stealing beasts. Each region (regardless of its location) also lives from trading with merchants, who are numerous enough to provide many zones with the necessary and more. Every zone will also eat the mushrooms that locally grows, which may vary. Every Yevat community has to gather food in advance for the cold days, for fruits and animals are rarer. |
Conclusion
There is a reason why Bothea is deified: she is a generous planet. Yevatem rarely lack food. The harvest is relatively easy, and everything grows in abundance. It also helps that Bothea is four times bigger than Earth, but Yevatem are far to be as numerous as humans: they have plenty of resources that they learnt to manage and to share.