Vegetable Patches Provide Fresh Views for Citizens

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Sumartinah (50), a resident of Bausasran, showed vegetables grown by the hydroponic method, in one of the vegetable aisles, which is located in Bausasran Vegetable Village, Yogyakarta City, on Thursday (18/6/2020). The vegetable village was initiated by a number of farmer groups from the village. The existence of a vegetable village stretches the city farmer in the city of Yogyakarta.

Almost every corner in the city of Yogyakarta looks greener as many of the city’s pathways have been used to grow vegetables. Urban farming can also help meet the need for vegetables during the Covid-19 pandemic.Sumartinah (50), accompanied by her grandchild, walked in front her house in Bausasran village, Yogyakarta on Thursday (18/6/020). The atmosphere of the residential area is cool and fresh even though it is located in the heart of the city. The city’s narrow pathways look so green with vegetables planted in pots, in bags attached to the wall or in hydroponics.

"It\'s great to have a green view like this. It feels fresh too. It\'s better to have a view like this than that of buildings and walls," said Sumartinah.

The residential area, which is located about 2 kilometers northeast of the zero kilometer point of Yogyakarta, is densely populated. The houses are next to each other with a 2-meter-wide road.

Even so, vegetable plants fill the streets of the village. Vegetables such as chili, eggplant and spinach flourish in the vegetable patches of Bausasran, as local residents call it. There are about 20 vegetable patches in the residential area.

"I take care of one of the vegetable patches with two friends. It is easy to take care of them, just water them every day and if any leaves dry up, pull them out immediately. I am happy to do the job because gardening is also my hobby," said Sumartinah, who makes a living making cakes.

Farming on a narrow plot of land in Bausasran began in 2009. At that time, the community administration encouraged residents to take part in the Yogyakarta City Gardening (Proklim) competition. The chairperson of the Gemah Ripah Farmers Group in Bausasran, Winaryati (43), said, at that time, residents began to grow vegetables in their homes. By 2019, six farmer groups had been formed in the village.

To strengthen the farmers network, she invited other farmer groups to integrate into a bigger organization, which was later established and called the Bausasran Vegetable Village. The new organization won the Yogyakarta Vegetable Village Competition in 2019.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

A number of residents are walking down the vegetable hall which is located in Bausasran Vegetable Village, Yogyakarta City, Thursday (8/6/2020). The vegetable village was initiated by a number of farmer groups from the village.

"We try to be productive despite limitations. The lack of land should not be an obstacle to being productive, "said Winaryati.

Vegetable donation

The farmer group began their farming activities in their home yards before opening a 400-square-meter communal garden in the residential area. The area used for the communal garden was previously used for a boarding house, which collapsed during an earthquake in the city in 2006. The landowner later allowed the land to be used for a communal garden.

They have also been more creative in their farming activities.

The Bausasran residents grow various vegetables including lettuce, cabbage, mustard greens, cauliflower, chili, eggplant, bitter melon, water spinach and tomatoes. They have also been more creative in their farming activities.

Winaryati acknowledge that the yields from the Bausasran Vegetable Village were quite good. About 10 to 15 kilograms of vegetables are harvested per day. Residents no longer buy vegetables from stalls or markets to meet their daily needs. Those who need vegetables can pick them themselves in the garden and pay the farming group’s caretaker. In fact, before the Covid-19 pandemic, the communal garden was often visited by groups of tourists who also bought vegetables.

However, since the emergence of the pandemic, many of the vegetables are not sold. The Gemah Ripah Farmer Group together with the residents then took the initiative to distribute the vegetables to people affected by Covid-19. "We have donated some of the vegetables to a number of public kitchens. In addition, we also distributed some of the vegetables for the canthelan program here," Winaryati said.

The canthelan program is an initiative of the community to donate basic needs, including vegetables, to the needy.

Winaryati explained that urban farming had had a positive impact on the social life of citizens. The spirit of mutual cooperation, for example, grew after the communal garden was formed. It can be seen from the active participation of the residents in routine community service in the village.

About 3 km to the west of Bausasran, urban farming is also growing in Badran village and Bumijo village, both in Tegalrejo district.

Along the village streets can be seen fresh and green vegetable plants mixed with colorful flowers.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Head of the Gemah Ripah Bausasran Farmer Group Winaryati checks the plants in the communal land managed by the farmer group, in the Bausasran Sayur Village, Yogyakarta City,  on Thursday (18/6/2020). The farmer group is one of the initiators of the formation of a vegetable village. The existence of a vegetable village stretches the city farmer in the city of Yogyakarta.

The head of development of the Makmur Badran Group, Anastasia Partini (59), said the farmer group was formed in 2007, and began farming in the houses of its members. Since 2018, the farmer group has grown vegetables in its own communal garden. "The owner allowed us to use the land for farming. Since then, residents have become more enthusiastic about farming," he said.

He said during the pandemic more farmers participated in farming activities. Not just as a hobby, the farming can also help meet the daily need for vegetables. It is hoped that this village-based farming activity will support the people\'s food security. "The vegetables can meet our own needs. Others can also buy from the garden," said Anastasia.

According to Yogyakarta city government data, there are 104 vegetable villages in 14 districts with 3.5 hectares of land. "The goal is to help meet the vegetable needs of the residents and to expand the green areas in the city," said the deputy mayor of Yogyakarta , Heroe Poerwadi.

Farming activities have become a growing lifestyle amid the implementation of social restrictions due to the pandemic. Besides promoting environment sustainability, the urban farming activities also support the food security of the citizens.