Tropical monsoon climates are characterized by alternating wet and dry periods with seasonal wind shifts. The rainy season normally lasts only 5-7 months. Annual rainfall is moderate, and little or no rain falls during the long dry season. In monsoon regions near the equator there may be two rainy seasons a year. Tropical monsoon climates are found both north and south of the rain forest regions of South America and Africa, in the Caribbean, and along the Asian coast from India to Japan.

In tropical monsoon regions, farming activities like planting and harvesting are tied closely to the timing of wet and dry seasons. Crops may be concentrated along rivers or in ravines during dry seasons. Possible vegetables for use in either the wet or dry season include pigeon pea, eggplant, pumpkin, chaya, and okra. Sweet potato, corn and possibly rice are wet season alternatives. Sorghum, a grain more drought tolerant than corn, is preferred over corn in drier regions. Possible fruit crops include mango, passion fruit and banana.

Sugar cane, an important cash crop in both large and small farms in the tropics, is planted in our fenced chicken run. The run is connected to garden bays that also serve as chicken forage areas. The chickens are admitted to garden bays after vegetables are harvested to provide weed and insect control as well as manure fertilization.