A number of methods are applicable to conserve the environmental ecosystems of villages. One of which is to initiate Field School Ecological Agriculture activities.

Medan. Recently, farming has been the center of discussion in the Village of Durin Sirugun-Derek, North Sumatera. The demand for chemical fertilizer and pesticides is high, and the prices are so high they are unaffordable by farmers due to lack of supply. In the meantime, ESP, in its efforts to preserve and protect water catchment areas, has been assisting the people of Durin Sirugun-Derek in learning about land management in and around their homes through the ecological agriculture Field School, starting at the beginning of April 2008.

At this field school, local farmers learn about how to apply environmentally friendly farming practices and how to manage their orchards and cultivated fields by themselves through the utilization of the existing natural resources around them.

In order to meet their needs for fertilizer, for example, the participants of the Durin Sirugun Field School are making compost from materials collected from around their fields and local environment, including livestock droppings, leaves, sawdust, and household waste. “Besides the Field School participants, other farmers are also beginning to take an interest in compost making, although they are a bit shy about it,” Rudi Tarigan, 28, said.

The first crop to be experimented with by the FS Durin Sirugun-Derek group was green beans. They used a 20 meter x 20 meter plot of land for the trial. ”We got an average of 10 to 20 each time we picked from the five rows of green beans we planted. Beans tend to yield up to 10 harvests for us, and the only real expense we have is buying the seeds. What we learn from the test plot, we apply in our gardens,” Rudi, who is the trusted head of FS Derek Permai Ekologis, said.

The Ecological Agriculture Field School is not only analyzing and discussing garden ecosystems, it is applying the group learning concept directly in the locals’ fields so that they become aware of the cause and effect aspects of cultivation on ecosystems. They are becoming aware that there is an inseparable connection among the garden, forest, river and human habitat ecosystems. The Field School also provides them a forum in which to improve and develop themselves.

”The learning process has given me a lot more confidence. There was one course about observing the plants; for example, observing which pests and natural enemies were affecting the green beans. After each observation trip, we had a chance to discuss what we saw. At first, I was afraid to put forth my thoughts, but because the learning environment was so supportive, I gained courage about telling the other participants what I thought. The Field School is not just a matter of learning about plants and cultivation, it gives us a chance to learn to speak in public,” Nande Agus, 30, said enthusiastically.

Ridahati Rambey & Dina Kartika Sari, ESP North Sumatra