Reproduced, with permission, from: Mathias-Mundy, E., O. Machena, G. McKiernan, and P. Mundy. 1992. Indigenous technical knowledge of private tree management: A bibliographic report. Studies in Technology and Social Change no. 22. Ames, IA: Technology and Social Change Program, Iowa State University.

Box 2.6 Talun gardens in West Java

A talun is an artificial multistory forest consisting of various economic tree species, often with an understory of annual crops or spontaneous herbs (regarded as "weeds" by westerners, but not by local people, see section 5.2).

Two types of talun can be distinguished: permanent talun and talun-kebun. Permanent talun has densely spaced trees and a closed canopy, with a few shade-loving species as undergrowth. Talun-kebun is a talun within which a space is cleared each year for annual crops. This space is rotated within the talun in an 8-year cycle (Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto 1984:274-276.

Talun in the same village may contain up to 250 different crop species. A talun may have 5 stories (see Box 3.9) (Micheon et al. 1983:118-121; Micheon 1983:18; Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto 1984:262; Bompard et al. 1980:61.)

The talun resembles a natural forest ecosystem, though with some modifications (Michon 1983:20):

The ground layer is partially cleared with "weed species often being used for livestock fodder.
Farmers change the reproductive cycles of trees by gathering fruits and seeds and by favoring vegetative propagation. They control regeneration by choosing the time, place and number of replacement species.
They also control the occurrence of gaps by cutting trees and removing wood for fuel or construction. They plant the gaps with light-loving species such as banana, Parkia spp. and Albizza spp., under which shade-tolerant species can be grown.
In the garden, trees are not as tall as in the forest, the canopies are spherical rather than umbrella-shaped, and the plant population is lower. This means there is less competition for light and soil resources in the gardens.
people remove some products (fruits, wood, etc.) and provide nutrients in the form of mud from fishponds, compost from kitchen waste and uprooted weds or leguminous leaves. This recycling of nutrients means that artificial fertilizers are not necessary (Michon et al. 1983:125).

The talun-kebun system consists of a talun in which a clearing is made and planted with annual crops. This plot, called a kebun, is cropped for 18 months, after which the talun is allowed to regrow and a new kebun is opened. This system differs from shifting cultivation in several ways (Wiersum 1982; Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto 1984; Michon 1983):

Talun-kebun is practiced in an artificial forest.
Land ownership is well defined and often effectively in private hands.
The trees are harvested and sold, with very little burning taking place.
Most of the annual crops are grown for sale rather than subsistence.
Manure and synthetic fertilizers are brought in to replace the nutrients lost.
Coupled with wet-rice culture, talun-kebun can support a dense population because it is geared to the market and receives inputs from outside. About 2 ha are sufficient to support a family in West Java.

Landless and poor farmers are allowed to take fallen branches and cut dead wood for fuel from the talun, but are not allowed to harvest other produce. The principal difference between a talun and a home garden is that a talun has no house on it (Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto 1984:275-278)--although Michon (1983:16) disagrees with this contention.