Once a Rubbish Dump, This Land in East Jakarta is Now a Site for Urban Farming and Education

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - In a corner of Batu Ampar, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, a plot of land once synonymous with piles of rubbish has undergone a transformation. The neglected area has gradually been turned into a green space named Saung Aset, starting with an urban farming area complete with a vegetable garden, a fish pond, and a children’s playground.

The Head of the Economic and Development Section of the Batu Ampar Village, Isra Nur Hikmah, refers to the area as a “productive park”. Instead of being left to waste, the land has been repurposed as a simple educational and recreational space for residents.

“Because the land is large and the work is being done in stages through self-help without government funding, I really appreciate the PPSU team,” said Isra. He explained that the various facilities in the park were created by utilising used items from the surrounding environment.

“I told them to find materials in the surrounding environment and make use of them. The bamboo and children’s toys are all used. They got them from the remnants of construction projects in the area and asked for them after the projects were completed,” explained Isra.

Not only is Saung Aset a site for urban farming, but it also offers an experience similar to a small tourist village in the middle of the bustling capital city. Residents who want to buy vegetables can even harvest them themselves from the garden. According to him, this self-harvesting system provides a unique experience for residents.

However, transforming a former illegal dumping site into a learning space and urban farming area was not easy. Isra admitted that the area had long been known as a place where people dumped rubbish indiscriminately.