Respati Achmad Ardianto, Mayor of Surakarta, visits the circular garden of Kanisius Pucangsawit Elementary School | Photo from jateng.idntimes.com
One Monday morning in March, the garden at Kanisius Elementary School in Pucangsawit, Surakarta, Indonesia was abuzz with the cheerful voices of students. Wearing their neat uniforms and full of energy, they planted various vegetables, including mustard greens, kale, spinach, and bok choy. Givenn, a first-grade student, expressed her joy as she planted. She was already looking forward to the day when she and her friends would harvest the vegetables they had grown together.
This activity is part of Jesuit Fr Joseph MMT Situmorang’s initiative to provide holistic education through garden management. Education at the school is not limited to academic knowledge but also includes environmental stewardship and an appreciation for the resources found in our surrounding environment.
The students are involved not only in planting vegetables but also in tending the garden by weeding and watering the plants. Every morning, the children happily visit the garden to observe how the plants grow. They learn that from a small seed, great life can grow and that a garden can be a wonderful teacher of patience, responsibility, and cooperation in cultivating the land together.
Students harvesting their produce | Photo by Wahyu Prakoso | Solopos
A month later, the students celebrated their first harvest of vegetables, the result of their hard work. A week after the harvest, Marie Stefanie (Ms Stefi), a local food activist, taught them how to clean and prepare the vegetables to create delicious and healthy meals, including making them into smoothies. With enthusiasm, the children learned to be proud of the vegetables they had grown with love. The cooking activity was both enjoyable and educational.
Ms Stefi, a local food activist, provides nutrition education using local food sources
The produce from the garden was also used to make nutritious Manadonese porridge. The students sat together happily enjoying the fruits of their labour, especially since this was their first time trying Manadonese porridge.
The activity caught the attention of the Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Achmad Ardianto, and several officials, who visited Kanisius Pucangsawit Elementary School to observe the circular garden tended by the students and teachers.
The students warmly welcomed the mayor and proudly showed him their plants. They enthusiastically explained how they planted the vegetables and cared for the garden. The mayor even joined the students in harvesting the vegetables. This experience became a cherished memory for the students, who felt appreciated for their efforts. The mayor also expressed his appreciation to the school for nurturing a generation of young people who care for the environment and understand the importance of food security.
On his Instagram page, Mayor Respati Achmad Ardianto posted, “Today, I learned a lot from the students at Kanisius Elementary School, Pucangsawit. Gardening here isn’t just about growing vegetables; it also fosters character, teamwork, and a love of the environment from an early age… Thank you, Kanisius Elementary School, Pucangsawit. Hopefully, this positive initiative will inspire other schools.”
View this post on Instagram
The circular garden at Kanisius Pucangsawit Elementary School shows that education goes beyond the classroom. Through gardening, students learn about hard work, responsibility, and gratitude for nature’s bounty. They understand that food does not simply appear on their plates. Vegetables must be grown and cared for before they can become a source of nourishment. Growing food requires effort, care, and patience.
The mayor’s visit further motivated the school community to continue caring for the garden and protecting the environment. The students believe that small steps can make a big difference. This garden has become a space for forming character, helping students love God’s creation, recognise their responsibility towards the environment, and contribute to sustaining future generations through their daily actions.
This article is an edited version of the story that appeared on the Indonesian Jesuits’ website.
