The first profitable gardens arose when the nomads began to settle down. In South-Tyrol they are often rectangular or square. All kitchen gardens were used to grow local vegetables and plants in one and the same garden, which was divided up by means of paths, geometrically built beds, often with frames and a simple fence made of wood. The fence had to keep out animals and people. There was even a law which ordered the building of a fence.
The fence had to be as high as the shoulder of an adult. The plants of the garden have a long tradition and for example in a script in the library of the monastery of the Franciscan Friars from the year 1743 you can read about "Visélen", the word used even today the south-tyrolian dialect when talking about beans. In former times, when meat was hard to get and very expensive, beans were a very important source of protein.