According to the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), 93.6% of Indonesians do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Currently, when people are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, gardening is one of the activities that people love to do while at home. This momentum was utilized by the Community Service Team of the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia (UI) to organize community empowerment activities in Sukatani Village, Depok City, West Java.
They share their knowledge and experience with the local community in order to use their home gardens for vegetable gardening (home gardening). “This community service program aims to increase the knowledge of residents, especially housewives, as decision makers in fulfilling family food. We hope that every family can practice a balanced nutritious diet, including increasing vegetable consumption,” said Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, MSc., as the main servant, during the socialization home gardening at Sukatani Village Office, Depok City. “There are so many health benefits from consuming vegetables and fruits because they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber,” said Doktor Asih.
This home gard ening activity took place from November to December 2021, involving gardening activists who are members of the Saung Depok Community, under the coordination of Ir. Adi Wirawan. The Faculty of Public Health UI community service team also provided the community with two modules, namely the Module to Make a Vegetable Garden at Home, Yuk! and the Module on Why Vegetable Consumption is Important. In addition, it includes videos on gardening practices and making planting media, videos on vegetable consumption, videos on the nutritional content of vegetables, and videos on the contents of my plate, as well as materials for gardening.
“In addition to adding ornamental plants at home, let’s utilize the yard by planting a variety of vegetables that can be used directly for family consumption. This home gardening activity is accompanied by experts in their fields with the hope that the mothers and residents involved can consult directly during the mentoring process, both related to gardening practices and regarding balanced nutritious consumption,” said Asih.
On the same occasion, Cahyanto, Head of Sukatani Village, Depok City, appreciated the community service program activities in his area. “Thank you to Faculty of Public Health UI for assisting yard utilization activities in RW 16 Sukatani Village. RW 16 residents are currently actively gardening,” he said.
Cahyanto also hopes that this activity will continue, so that RW 16 residents can fulfill their vegetable needs from their own planting. Later, he hopes that this activity can be replicated in other areas.
“I visited RW 16, and thank God the results have been seen, even though it has not been harvested. I thank Ms. Asih, Ms. Dara, and the team as companions for this activity,” he said when reviewing the Sustainable Food House Area exhibition which was supported by the Universits Indonesia’s Faculty of Public Health Community Service Team.
