Community Garden in Pandemic

When most of the people in Bali have lost their job and daily income due to the pandemic, some of them have initiated to manage garden as an alternative to meet their families daily needs for food. Community in Kemenuh village, Gianyar, is an example.

Community garden in Kemenuh hamlet (Photo: Wayan Suartana)  

Given that this pandemic brings uncertainty to their job in tourism industry, they settled an agreement between them to manage community garden by utilizing some abandoned land around them. Some of the land belongs to individual, while some of them registered under the customary land. 

Garden assessment is conducted in discussion with community representatives (Photo: Wayan Suartana)

Seven groups are interested and then involved in this initiative. Each of them represents a hamlet. By managing the garden, the community in each hamlet is expected to have free access to food in a self-sufficient way.

After the garden assessment, the selected land is started rehabilitated by the community (Photo: Wayan Suartana)

To support the initiative, IDEP assists them on how to manage a permaculture-based garden. The assistance, that will be provided until 31 August 2020, includes garden assessment and recommendation, distribution of garden kit and supplies, short training, planting supervision, monitoring and evaluation.

Distribution of garden kit supplies to support the community initiative (Photo: IDEP)

Since May, the communities have developed the garden and made progress. They have planted vegetables and seasoning plants that they need. As of now, they are waiting for their first harvest time.

The garden is ready to be harvested (Photo: IDEP)

Thanks to medico international for supporting this emergency response. Visit IDEP on Facebook Page for more stories and photos. (Ed)