As one of the earliest land use systems, homegardens have developed over time in response to the lack of fertile land for agriculture throughout the history of civilization. The term “trees outside forests” (TOF) refers to trees found in tropical residential gardens, which may include tea, coconut, and rubber trees. Most tree species found in homegardens are multipurpose in nature, and most of them can be classified as either indigenous or occasionally endemic.

Homegardens benefit the environment and the household in a variety of economical and agro-ecological aspects. In normal home gardens, one may mostly notice firewood, fodder, medicine, spices, and aesthetically pleasing plants in addition to crops and fruits. In terms of agro-ecological services, the primary function of agro ecosystems is to provide the necessary resources for the organic matter and dead leaves to naturally decompose.

Although the term “homegarden” has many various definitions in the literature, in a nutshell, it can be defined as a diverse and sustainable land use system that mixes crops, livestock, and aquaculture and offers the family income, employment, and environmental services.