Home gardens
Encyclopedia
Home gardens, also known as forest gardens
, are found in humid areas. They use inter-cropping to cultivate tree
s, crops
, and livestock
on the same land. In Kerala
in South India
as well as in northeastern India, they are the most common form of land use; they are also found in Indonesia
, One example combines coconut
, black pepper
, cocoa and pineapple
.
n countries, for example Zambia
, Zimbabwe
, Tanzania
, gardens are widespread in rural, periurban and urban areas and they play an essential role in establishing food security
. Most well known are the Chaga
or Chagga gardens on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. These are an excellent example of an agroforestry
system. In many countries, women are the main actors in home gardening and food is mainly produced for subsistence.
are connected to 'Kaavu'. Some of the endangered species of wild plants, trees animals and plants can be seen in Home Gardens of Kerala. The main aim of preserving a Home Garden is to preserve ritualistic beliefs and cultural identity of joint families. Gradually, due to the origin of nuclear families and lifestyle related to the same, the Home Gardens underwent transformation to playgrounds. But still in Kerala, some families show ample importance to protect their Home Gardens. As pointed out, the preservation of home gardens in Kerala is strictly connected to family purposes. At the same time, home gardens are helpful to raise the water table of nearby ponds and wells.Unknowingly, some families in Kerala which preserve their home gardens preserve nature and ecological balance.
Kannur
is an incredible district in Kerala which shows utmost interest in preserving forest gardens. Besides, the forest gardens in Kannur are preserved with due care because of the traditional way of worshiping nature as the embodiment of God. For instance, the 'Kaavus' or the local temples in Kannur possess the glory of preserved forests without human encroachment. Some of the most endangered species of wild life can be seen in Kaavus. For instance, the 'Parappool Kaavu' (Mele Kaavu and Thazhe Kaavu) and 'Kayyath Naagam' are important local temples in Taliparamba (Kannur District) with private forests/ forest gardens. The 'Parappool Kaavu' is situated at Parappool, 4-5 kilometers away from Taliparamba. The rich vegetation within the area of the Parappool Kaavu is still to be explored. On the other side, the Kayyath Naagam is closely connected to the Indian way of worshiping snakes. The vegetation preserved within the area includes 30 acres of land. The surrounding areas of Kayyam are full of paddy fields. The rich vegetation preserved within the area of Kayyath Naagam acts the role of a lung which purifies and recharges the air, water and the atmosphere. Normally, the believers are allowed to visit the temple not the preserved area. But, the believers are allowed to visit the preserved area on 'Aayilyam Naal' or a particular day in every year. Besides, the Kayyath Naagam authorities show keen interest to preserve the vegetation by not allowing the poachers to enter the preserved area.
, the home garden, literally known in Nepali as Ghar Bagaincha, refers to the traditional land use system around a homestead, where several species of plants are grown and maintained by household members and their products are primarily intended for the family consumption (Shrestha et al., 2002). The term “home garden” is often considered synonymous to the kitchen garden. However, they differ in terms of function, size, diversity, composition and features (Sthapit et al., 2006). In Nepal, 72% of households have home gardens of an area 2-11% of the total land holdings (Gautam et al., 2004). Because of their small size, the government has never identified home gardens as an important unit of food production and it thereby remains neglected from research and development. However, at the household level the system is very important as it is the an important source of quality food and nutrition for the rural poor and, therefore, are important contributors to the household food security and livelihoods of farming communities in Nepal. They are typically cultivated with a mixture of annual and perennial plants that can be harvested on a daily or seasonal basis. Biodiversity that has an immediate value is maintained in home gardens as women and children have easy access to preferred food, and for this reason alone we should promote home gardens as a key element for a healthy way of life. Home gardens, with their intensive and multiple uses, provide a safety net for households when food is scarce. These gardens are not only important sources of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, herbs, flowers, construction materials and income in many countries, they are also important for the in situ conservation of a wide range of unique genetic resources for food and agriculture (Subedi et al., 2004). Many uncultivated, as well as neglected and underutilised species could make an important contribution to the dietary diversity of local communities (Gautam et al., 2004).
In addition to supplementing diet in times of difficulty, home gardens promote whole-family and whole-community involvement in the process of providing food. Children, the elderly, and those caring for them can participate in this infield agriculture, incorporating it with other household tasks and scheduling. This tradition has existed in many cultures around the world for thousands of years.
These gardens exemplify polyculture
, and conserve much crop genetic diversity
and heirloom plant
s that are not found in monocultures. There are now efforts to apply a similar concept in temperate climates (forest gardening
).
Forest gardening
Forest gardening is a food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans...
, are found in humid areas. They use inter-cropping to cultivate tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, crops
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
on the same land. In Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in South India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as well as in northeastern India, they are the most common form of land use; they are also found in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, One example combines coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
, cocoa and pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
.
Africa
In many AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n countries, for example Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, gardens are widespread in rural, periurban and urban areas and they play an essential role in establishing food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
. Most well known are the Chaga
Chaga
The Chaga are Bantu-speaking indigenous Africans and the third largest ethnic group in Tanzania. They live on the southern and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, as well as in the Moshi area...
or Chagga gardens on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. These are an excellent example of an agroforestry
Agroforestry
Agroforestry is an integrated approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.It combines agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.-Definitions:According to...
system. In many countries, women are the main actors in home gardening and food is mainly produced for subsistence.
India
Home gardens in KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
are connected to 'Kaavu'. Some of the endangered species of wild plants, trees animals and plants can be seen in Home Gardens of Kerala. The main aim of preserving a Home Garden is to preserve ritualistic beliefs and cultural identity of joint families. Gradually, due to the origin of nuclear families and lifestyle related to the same, the Home Gardens underwent transformation to playgrounds. But still in Kerala, some families show ample importance to protect their Home Gardens. As pointed out, the preservation of home gardens in Kerala is strictly connected to family purposes. At the same time, home gardens are helpful to raise the water table of nearby ponds and wells.Unknowingly, some families in Kerala which preserve their home gardens preserve nature and ecological balance.
Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
is an incredible district in Kerala which shows utmost interest in preserving forest gardens. Besides, the forest gardens in Kannur are preserved with due care because of the traditional way of worshiping nature as the embodiment of God. For instance, the 'Kaavus' or the local temples in Kannur possess the glory of preserved forests without human encroachment. Some of the most endangered species of wild life can be seen in Kaavus. For instance, the 'Parappool Kaavu' (Mele Kaavu and Thazhe Kaavu) and 'Kayyath Naagam' are important local temples in Taliparamba (Kannur District) with private forests/ forest gardens. The 'Parappool Kaavu' is situated at Parappool, 4-5 kilometers away from Taliparamba. The rich vegetation within the area of the Parappool Kaavu is still to be explored. On the other side, the Kayyath Naagam is closely connected to the Indian way of worshiping snakes. The vegetation preserved within the area includes 30 acres of land. The surrounding areas of Kayyam are full of paddy fields. The rich vegetation preserved within the area of Kayyath Naagam acts the role of a lung which purifies and recharges the air, water and the atmosphere. Normally, the believers are allowed to visit the temple not the preserved area. But, the believers are allowed to visit the preserved area on 'Aayilyam Naal' or a particular day in every year. Besides, the Kayyath Naagam authorities show keen interest to preserve the vegetation by not allowing the poachers to enter the preserved area.
Nepal
In NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, the home garden, literally known in Nepali as Ghar Bagaincha, refers to the traditional land use system around a homestead, where several species of plants are grown and maintained by household members and their products are primarily intended for the family consumption (Shrestha et al., 2002). The term “home garden” is often considered synonymous to the kitchen garden. However, they differ in terms of function, size, diversity, composition and features (Sthapit et al., 2006). In Nepal, 72% of households have home gardens of an area 2-11% of the total land holdings (Gautam et al., 2004). Because of their small size, the government has never identified home gardens as an important unit of food production and it thereby remains neglected from research and development. However, at the household level the system is very important as it is the an important source of quality food and nutrition for the rural poor and, therefore, are important contributors to the household food security and livelihoods of farming communities in Nepal. They are typically cultivated with a mixture of annual and perennial plants that can be harvested on a daily or seasonal basis. Biodiversity that has an immediate value is maintained in home gardens as women and children have easy access to preferred food, and for this reason alone we should promote home gardens as a key element for a healthy way of life. Home gardens, with their intensive and multiple uses, provide a safety net for households when food is scarce. These gardens are not only important sources of food, fodder, fuel, medicines, spices, herbs, flowers, construction materials and income in many countries, they are also important for the in situ conservation of a wide range of unique genetic resources for food and agriculture (Subedi et al., 2004). Many uncultivated, as well as neglected and underutilised species could make an important contribution to the dietary diversity of local communities (Gautam et al., 2004).
In addition to supplementing diet in times of difficulty, home gardens promote whole-family and whole-community involvement in the process of providing food. Children, the elderly, and those caring for them can participate in this infield agriculture, incorporating it with other household tasks and scheduling. This tradition has existed in many cultures around the world for thousands of years.
These gardens exemplify polyculture
Polyculture
Polyculture is agriculture using multiple crops in the same space, in imitation of the diversity of natural ecosystems, and avoiding large stands of single crops, or monoculture...
, and conserve much crop genetic diversity
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary....
and heirloom plant
Heirloom plant
An heirloom plant, heirloom variety, or heirloom vegetable is a cultivar that was commonly grown during earlier periods in human history, but which is not used in modern large-scale agriculture...
s that are not found in monocultures. There are now efforts to apply a similar concept in temperate climates (forest gardening
Forest gardening
Forest gardening is a food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans...
).