Farmyard, the area surrounding a farm's buildings, can be described in a variety of ways using synonyms. A barnyard is a type of farmyard that emphasizes the animal housing structures. The term homestead refers to the farmyard and farmhouse together. Some synonyms emphasize the agricultural side of farmyards, such as croft, which is a small farm, and orchard, which is a farmyard with fruit trees. A vegetable plot, kitchen garden, and herb garden are also synonyms that describe farmyards solely used for growing crops. Other common synonyms for farmyards include ranch, pasture, and yard. No matter which synonym is used, the farmyard is an essential part of any farm.