On March 15, 2021, in the Provincial Hall of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence of the Province of Indonesia, the training “planting and caring for plants” was carried out. This training was guided by Mr. FX. Agus Sapari, who has a degree in Agriculture and is active in the Social Economic Development Team (PSE) of the Bayat Parish, Klaten-Central Java. It empowers people through agricultural activities. Mr. Agus shared his experience in planting and plant care. He stated that planting trees, especially fruit trees, does not mean just planting, watering and waiting for the fruits. Plants need to be fertilized periodically, as needed, as many nutrients are needed for the proper development of plants, such as nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, etc.
This activity was attended by 31 participants: Sisters and employees of the Educational Foundation, the Social Foundation, Casa Wisma Griya Paseban and the employees of the Provincialate. In addition to the theory, the participants also exercised the practice of planting in the backyard of the Bongsari community, behind the Pondok Harapan community. Participants learned how to prune guava branches and how to transfer plants from pots or other packaging to the soil. Enthusiasm was perceived among the participants, as they asked questions related to the problems they frequently face, such as, for example, dealing with pests and damage to crops.
Sr. Anna Marie, as a member of the Provincial Coordination, expressed her gratitude for the smooth running of the event and her hope that the training can be practiced at home, in the community and at work. She said the main objective would not be to seek only profits, but to preserve nature.
We are grateful and hope that this training will motivate us to use and develop the “idle land” around us. We hope that this training will also be one of the means of loving nature more and caring for the land as "our common home", as Pope Francis affirms in the encyclical Laudato si.
Sr. Agustina PI