Mixing of different compatible species is commonly practised to maximise the
utilisation of spatial (intensive use of ground and vertical space) and temporal
(staggered planting and harvesting) dimensions of the home gardens.
Home garden structures generally consist of multi-layered arrangement of plant
species (Soemarowoto, 1987). Each canopy of the garden has a specific place and
function.
The structure and species composition of home gardens are influenced by agro-
ecology, socio-cultural practices, economic status of the family, market and so on
(Nair, 2001; Gautam et al., 2006).
Home gardens are dynamic production systems – its structure and species
composition may change overtime based on the needs of the gardeners/household
and, at the same time, new plan species are continuously introduced.
Home gardens are maintained to meet multiple objectives/needs of the families, such
as food, spices, medicines, livestock fodders, aesthetic purposes and so on.Home garden as a biodiversity rich production environment/ system
Home gardens are subsets of the larger production system, and are characterized by
extremely rich biodiversity of cultivated and uncultivated plant species. This is evident from
the following features:
Complex integration of plant species within a small area, with carefully exploiting the
spatial and temporal niches, making home gardens biodiversity rich production
systems (Gautam et al., 2004).
Home gardens promote in-situ conservation of a wide range of plant species,
especially vegetables, fruits, spices and herbs, fodder trees on-farm (Gautam et al.,
2004).
Home gardens have been found to maintain unique varieties and key species
(Gautam et al., 2006).
Home gardens have been found as viable units of on-farm biodiversity conservation of
certain crops when considered at landscape and/or community scale as they are
interconnected by farmers’ seed system.
Home gardens as important sources of food security and livelihoods
Despite being small in area, home gardens are major source of vegetables (contributes
about 60 percent of the total family consumption), fruits and spices and herbs; and it also
supplement family income to meet other livelihood needs (Shrestha et al., 2004; Gautam et
al., 2004). More specifically:
Home gardens supply a variety of nutritious food – through provision of fresh and
often pesticide free vegetables and fruits for healthy lives of the family members.
Home gardens also supplement family income through sale of surplus produce in the
market, especially vegetables, fruits and spices and herbs (Gautam et al., 2004; Trinh
et al., 2003).
Home gardens support livestock production by providing fodder and forage and help
to provide goods and services of ecosystem health and human landscape.
Home gardens meet socio-cultural and religious requirements of the family by
maintenance of unique crop species.
Home gardens provide plant species of aesthetic values and provide enrich quality of
life.
Home gardens have their own management systems
The cultural practices and management of inputs in home gardens differ from the other
production systems and show the following features:
Home gardens are generally managed under intensive and integrated production
system – a variety of plant species and varieties are planted together and their
interactions managed accordingly. Small animals and fish, and apiary are also often
included in the system.