Baciro Residents Transform Alley and Sewer into Organic Vegetable Garden

Residents of Baciro, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta, have proven that a lack of land is no barrier to farming. They have transformed the area above a sewer, or ‘kalen’, into a flourishing organic vegetable garden.

The garden, located along a narrow alley, is managed by the Timoho Ngremboko farming group. Daryanti, a member of the group, explained that the initiative began in 2022 when local women started planting family medicinal plants. With guidance from agricultural extension officers, the group was encouraged to utilise the space along the sewer for growing vegetables.

“We don’t have any land. This is all we have. Our houses are very close together. Thank goodness there is this sewer, so we cleaned it up and planted on it,” Daryanti said.

The garden now boasts around 25 types of vegetables, including cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, water spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, chives, celery, and even strawberries. All produce is grown organically. The group also raises catfish and chickens. Harvests are sold to local residents, with the income used to purchase more seeds and fertilizer. Daryanti noted that while the harvests are not large, they are consistent, generating between Rp 200,000 and Rp 400,000 per month. The group has also received support from the local agriculture department and BRI bank, which provided initial capital, planting media, and pots.