In Sri Lanka, home gardens have been identified as an integral part of the landscape and culture for centuries since ancient times and remain today one of the major and oldest, most sustainable forms of land use in the country. The term Kandyan Home Garden (KHG) refers to a subset of the historical Kandyan Kingdom, including Kandy and adjacent districts, such as Badulla, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Rathnapura. These regions fall in the wet and intermediate zones in the island, where the climate and topographic environment rich for luxurious growth of perennial trees, canopy cover and the cover cropping. The soil consists of reddish brown latosolic, immature brown loam and red yellow podzolic in most of the locations. The annual rainfall is year-round (2000-2500mm), sufficient to meet the evaporation (temperature demand of the atmosphere, where the relative humidity (65-80%) is so nourished with a distinct dry spell of one to two weeks that triggers the flowering of the plant species. Kandyan home gardening is a unique feature in the home garden styles in the world. 

KHGs are considered a result of farmers’ conception, investment and long- term planning. Also KHG is in high levels of functional and highly diversifies plant diversity which enriches the soil and proper air enrichment over the surroundings. Through generations from the past, KHGs in Sri Lanka have evolved to satisfy households’ kitchen needs in food and other needs while troubleshooting the resource constraints resulting from densities in population pressure and shortage of arable lands, resources and capital.

The composition and structure of the flora and fauna species found in KHGs are a combination of selection, natural evolution, and environmental suitability where they are far beyond the natural instincts of Sri Lankan farmers with subsequent co-adaptation. 

KHGs blend characteristics to suit the socio-economic, cultural and ecological needs of the environment with diverse communities and landscapes in the fields. KHGs are managed through family labor as an average land area of 0.4 ha. Despite their small average size, they are characterized and identical by dense, multistoried arrangements with a combination of mixed but compatible species where correlation is keeping touch among all species. Different canopy layers and root zone configurations are defined with different requirements for light, nutrients, water and space where the maximizing of all the resource use in the ecosystem. 

The multi-layered structure and the tremendous composition of the KHGs are dynamic and subjected to change according to uses and cultivating seasons, while largely maintaining their overall structure and functions. The dynamic environment of the system is illustrated by the maturity indices of tree species, which include seedlings, saplings and mature trees in production such as annuals, biennial and perennials in a one battle. This traditional cropping system practiced for centuries and is considered as the oldest agroforestry system in Asia. Now, Let us see how we can initiate a Kandyan Home Garden in your own space where you are having a large quantity of land to be used productively and sustainably. 

Importance of KHG

The farmers and households with KHG have tended to have livelihood from a broader range of market and subsistence products compared to those with other home gardens. KHGs provide connectivity and linkages to other agricultural and natural landscapes. This is very important for biodiversity. 

Advantages from KHG

• Highly economical
• Provide foods- vegetables, medicine, herbs, fruits, greens, spices, livestock, poultry, timber, firewood
• To feel the natural beauty of mini rainforests in your garden
• High species and genetic diversity with or conservation aspects
• Enhance the family nutrition
• Provide habitat for faunal diversity – viability of gene pools
• Thick canopy- avoid soil erosion
• High decomposed litter content keep soil texture, structure and chemical properties in good situation
• Conserve the wild and local varieties of crops
• Prevents soil erosion, floods
• Enhance the carbon sequestration
• Spiritual enrichment
• Intellectual development and recreation values

Key Points from Background Landscaping:

• This is a mini format of a tropical rainforest structure where you feel the serenity in heaven. -It is almost the same as the tropical rainforest structure which is used as the main point of view in landscaping. The height of the tree species should be in 30m-35m in their maximum growth. - The canopy height is approximately around 30-35m in the maximum. There are many strata, almost 5 canopy layers can be identified easily- emergent layer, canopy layer, under-canopy layer, shrub layer and cover crop layer.
• Should have approximately 45-65plants or bushes per hectare.
• At least 20 crops should be located in a single system. 

What is the support you need from the surrounding to create your own KHG

• Altitude of 400-1050m 
• Rainfall of 2000-2500mm 
• Temperature around 240C-260C
• Relative humidity around 65-80% in day time and 75-90% in the night
• 500-699 population density per square meter as it should be rich in biodiversity
• 2-9 plant families
• Canopy coverage- 45-98%
• Ground coverage- 50-90%
• Dominant Soil type- reddish brown latosolic to immature brown loam
• Slope of the land- 10-40%
• Dominant natural vegetation of the area-tropical wet evergreen forest
• Landy tenure- mainly privately owned

Economical Benefits from KHG

• Escalate household income
• Enhancement in rural employment through additional or off-season production
• Recreation with agro-eco-tourism
• Economic hotspots with aesthetic education centers

What are the major crops that we can use in KHG as to the major canopy strata?

The major point in KHG is cultivating various types of crops in the same land according to the canopy capacity. 

• Types of fruit crops that can introduce to KHG: Avocado, Banana Cashew nuts, Citrus varieties, Anona, Custard apple, Durian, Guava, Jackfruit, Mangosteen, Passion fruit, Papaya, Mango, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Indian gooseberry (Nelli), Rambutan, Batoko Plum (Lovi-lovi), Rose apple, Sapota, Indian Plum (Uguressa), Carambola, Star fruit
• Types of vegetable crops that can introduce to KHG:  Brinjal, Cabbage, Ocra, Pumpkin, Winged beans, Bitter gourd, Snake gourd, Luffa, Ash plantains, Ash pumpkin, Bottle gourd,  Long Beans, Beans, Tomatoes, Chillie
• Types of spices that can introduce to KHG: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Curry leaves, Pandanas, Ginger, Turmeric, Lemon grass, Nutmeg, Pepper, Mace
• Types of ornamental crops that can introduce to KHG: Anthurium, Croton, Begonias, Orchids, Palms, Roses, Ferns
• Types of timber crops that can introduce to KHG: Mahogany, Teak, Ebony, Jackfruit, Albizia, - country's 70% of the timber requirement is fulfilled by home gardens
• Types of staple food crops that can introduce to KHG: Paddy, Breadfruit, Cassava, Coconut, Sweet potatoes, Yams
• Types of leafy greens that can introduce to KHG: Spinach, Amaranthus, Indian pennywort (Gotukola), Copperleaf joyweed (Mukunuwenna),  Horse purslane (Sarana), Water Spinach (Kang kung)
• Types of pulses and oil crops that can introduce to KHG: Mung beans, Cowpea, Black gram

In a system like KHG, the home garden has all aspects including all herbs, trees + shrubs with medicinal values and an opportunity to enhance the household economy with cash crops for a better enhancement in biodiversity. The vitamin & mineral requirement for the body from a meal can be easily supplied such as a home garden like KHG which more specifies each of the vitamin and mineral enriched foods- especially in raw chews. The regulatory services are defined as the benefits obtained from the regulation of home garden processes such as climate regulation, water purification, waste management, pest & diseases control. 

KHGs at a landscape level represent a land use system that over time and space maintains and, in some instances, enhances and creates crop genetic diversity. As a result of the good practice, the system provides a wide range of products year-round. The combination of trees, crops and livestock with different production cycles and rhythms provides a relatively uninterrupted supply of food products, which helps to increase the self-reliance of households. In some instances, KHGs are used to develop new business ventures as a means of value addition to either the home gardens themselves or their products. KHGs also provide many ecosystem services: provisioning, regulating, cultural services and support services. They also reduce pressure on fragmented natural forests by connecting them with a biodiversity-friendly land use system. We feel strongly that any ‘improvements’ to KHGs must be considered within the existing framework of physiognomy, use and management. This is because all benefits (ecological, economic and social) commonly linked to KHGs appear to depend on the unique nature of their physiognomy, utilization and management style.