Since Ireland is a small, historically isolated country, people have had a dramatic and problematic influence on the environment. They have changed the environment to fit their needs. Forested land turned into pastures and fields to grow crops. The abundant rain became a blessing for growing certain plants that did well in wet climates such as potatoes and grazing land. The Irish environment also does not experience very much snow so people can grow crops more regularly. In the 19th century, there were a lot of people who didn't have any food because all the plants got a disease and died. Farmers today spray their potato crops with a liquid that will protect the plants from the same potato disease that caused so many people to have to leave Ireland because they had no food. Harsh environments such as bogs posed dangers as animals could easily drown in the marsh-like environment, but people began to use the material that grew in the bogs, peat, to fuel fires to keep them warm in the cold climate.
