By: Komang Kurniawan, EBPP Chairman & Team Leader
Starting in August 2024, thanks to a grant from Bali-based Mitra Prodin, our Darmaji School students have been learning about improving their families’ presently infertile steep and sandy volcanic ash farmland from and with our Manikaji School students who started their dryland regenerative agriculture learning journey with a grant sponsored by ‘Australian Volunteers’ in January 2023
Leaving at 7:30am on 26 September for Manikaji, our Darmaji students’ second learning visit to their Manikaji School peers regenerated pilot garden boosted their enthusiasm in learning dryland cultivation techniques. There, they reviewed previous material about terracing and, overseen by Manikaji students, practiced in the field using bamboo A-frames to determine the contours of the land and rapidly learned how to make terrace, the importance of mulching, companion plants, and how to deal with weeds around plants.
In a collaborative atmosphere, Darmaji and Manikaji students discussed, shared knowledge, and ended with a presentation that I considered very satisfying. To further inspire them, they also visited the new terraced garden of Sintia, a Manikaji student, who has succeeded grown tomatoes and other vegetables despite the dry climate. Students who tried the organic tomatoes loved them and motivated them to plant on their land.
Darmaji students started hands-on learning in their own learning garden on 1st October, guided by Bumi Langit Foundation dryland permaculture experts and EBPP staff, eagerly preparing the land, and starting organic compost production. In high spirits, they had soon formed several terraces that will be ready for planting in the upcoming rainy season. Good luck Darmaji students, with huge appreciation to our donor, Mitra Prodin CSR.
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