Gardens have been kept by rural and urban people for millennia thus providing them with food, income and concrete opportunities to improve their livelihoods. Policy-makers, donors and other development specialists need to realise the great potential and opportunities that gardens can provide to people the world over. The intent of this booklet is to raise awareness and provide information on gardens and how these can effectively and efficiently contribute to sustainable livelihoods.
Preface
Foreword
- Some basic facts about home gardens
- History, definition and purposes
- Systems, resources and choices
- Gardens are places for innovation
- Trends
- Future directions
- Benefits of viable home gardens for family health and sustainable livelihoods
- Gardens reduce food losses
- More - and better - food available at all times
- Labour and time efficiency
- Environment: improved working and living conditions
- Enhanced social standing
- Better skills training
- Added value to livelihoods and trade
- Developing home gardens
- Making choices and factors influencing choices
- How to do it: transforming low home-garden production
- Supporting resources for home gardening
- Marketing
Sources of more information, training and networking
Agencies and websites
Selected further reading
Back Cover