Parjono from Durensawit: From Canvas to Crops

Time is a strange thing. Some days it can feel like there’s too much time, but when you’re surrounded by the right people, and doing what you love, time has a way of feeling fleeting. That’s how it is for Pak Parjono, our 40-year-old resilience farmer. Beneath his tan skin and thick Javanese accent, he is far from ordinary. 

Behind his busy days managing his farmland, Pak Parjono is also a passionate artist. Since his youth, painting has been his escape, and even now, his artwork brings in extra income. Besides farming, he teaches religious studies at the local madrasa and raises livestock in his spare time. When exhaustion sets in, he retreats to his garden, where the greenery offers calm. 

Parjono is carrying one of his sketches.

Since joining Trees4Trees in 2017, Parjono has become a senior farmer, starting with teak and fruit trees like soursop. This year, he’s planting timber trees like sengon and jabon, along with avocado trees, continuing his dedication to reforestation. 

One of the things he values most about Trees4Trees is the training they offer. He hopes that in the future, there will be additional training, such as grafting techniques or other cultivation methods to help farmers become more skilled in caring for their plants. 

Parjono’s Journey from Malaysia to a Fulfilling Life as a Farmer in Durensawit Village 

An adventurer might be a very suitable word to describe Pak Parjono. Before settling into farming, he spent five years working abroad in Malaysia, taking on jobs in welding, livestock, and construction. Yet, when he returned to Indonesia, he found that farming was his true calling. “Farming suits me better because it brings me peace, seeing my land lush and fertile,” he recalled. 

Parjono is planting a tree from Libra Palma and Trees4Trees.

Proud of his role as a farmer, Parjono believes that working with nature offers both healing and learning. “Maybe today’s generation feels ashamed to be farmers, but we contribute so much to the environment and the economy,” he added. He hopes his children will one day follow in his footsteps, helping to preserve the environment and take part in green initiatives that benefit the Earth. 

Despite challenges such as prolonged droughts and crop failures, Parjono remains optimistic. He constantly reminds his fellow farmers not to tire of planting and caring for the trees provided by Trees4Trees. “I am grateful to Libra Palma for providing seedlings and facilitating farmers to gain knowledge on greening our village,” he added. 

Parjono’s Inspiring Impact on Trees4Trees 

The spirit of Pak Parjono has inspired Marthan, the Trees4Trees Field Coordinator in Pati to keep spreading kindness and sharing good things around Durensawit Village. “Pak Parjono is not only a dedicated farmer but also a mentor to his peers. His perseverance and enthusiasm for learning and planting more types of trees inspire us all,” said Marthan enthusiastically. 

With a humble smile, Parjono shares a few jabon trees he planted with Trees4Trees in 2023, now flourishing and growing beautifully.

The harsh reality is addressing climate change and motivating farmers to be aware of and committed to greening the village. But Marthan is grateful for working side by side with Pak Parjono. He often helps Marthan to encourage other farmers to join the Trees4Trees reforestation program and even takes part in conserving the village’s water sources by planting trees around springs.  

In a world where everything is fast-paced, looking back and finding that little inspiration around our daily lives seems like a rare gift. Pak Parjono’s quiet determination show us that positive change often starts with small steps. Together, with the support from Libra Palma and Trees4Trees they remind us that no matter the challenges, the work we do today can leave a lasting impact on our environment and future generations. 

 

Written by Teresia Miranti | Source compiled by Marthan Saputra | Photograph by Marthan Saputra 

Muchsinun: A Farmer Driven by His Passion for Gardening

Muchsinun
Muchsinun proudly shares the harvest from his garden, with strawberries as one of

On a sunny afternoon in Kebumen as we rode our motorcycle slowly. The atmosphere was lively, with villagers attending to their daily tasks as the endless rice fields stretched out before us. After one hour of riding toward Kenteng Village, Pak Muchsinun welcomed us with his warm smile. “Assalamualaikum! You didn’t get lost on your way here, did you?” Pak Muchsinun joked, his laugh warm and welcoming as he greeted us. 

Pak Muchsinun, or Sinun as he’s often called, began his journey with Trees4Trees in 2022 after his farmer friends mentioned it to him. The idea of receiving free seedlings and connecting with other farmers intrigued him. It felt like the perfect opportunity to tackle the pressing environmental issues in Kenteng. 

“We used to receive help, but it never truly focused on solving environmental issues.” He told us that Kenteng faces a difficult balance between landslides during the rainy season and the harsh impacts of the dry season.  

“I’m committed to using what I have to help restore the conditions in this village, and the easiest way to start is by planting trees on my own land.” Therefore, he is grateful and feels fortunate that his land is fertile enough to support trees like teak and albizia.  

Muchsinun's garden
Muchsinun’s garden yields are abundantly lush.

His passion for farming inspired him to create a small garden at home, where he grows strawberries, oranges, guavas, chilies, and various horticultural plants. Just like planting trees, gardening brings peace to his heart and excites him, especially when his plants bear fruit. He often shares his harvest with neighbors.  

“The key to gardening is patience and care, especially since the plants I grow are for my consumption, so they need to be full of nutrients,” he explains. Essentially, Pak Muchsinun cannot think of any reason to not farm sustainably because it allows him to move forward and keep maintaining progress for multiple generations. 

Single Parent to His Only Daughter 

A smile rarely left Pak Muchsinun’s face as he spoke of his love for nature and the peace that gardening brings him. But beyond his garden, his biggest responsibility is raising his daughter as a single parent after losing his wife. Though farming keeps him grounded, his dedication as a father is his greatest motivation. 

Leaving behind his office job in Jakarta, Pak Muchsinun made the bold decision to return to his village, Kenteng, and farm full-time while raising his child. Over the past seven years, he’s faced various challenges, such as the long, difficult periods of drought. “I once had to carry water jugs from the village for months to keep my land alive,” he recalls. 

Despite these hardships, he is unwavering in his support of his daughter’s dreams, not necessarily expecting her to follow in his footsteps but wanting to provide her with opportunities beyond farming. 

He admitted that not every day is a good day. Some days are bad, and some days are good. It can be challenging and tough, but he always finds moments of joy in the little things. Like seeing his crops thrive after a long struggle or just by looking at his daughter studying diligently.  

Partnering with Trees4Trees has helped ease some of the burdens. Pak Muchsinun not only receives free seedlings but also fertilizers and training to help his crops flourish. He’s grateful to Trees4Trees and Soboplac for the resources that allow him to focus more on nurturing his land. “The seedlings are free, and the money I would have spent on them can now go toward maintaining the trees,” he says. 

Muchsinun with trees
Muchsinun poses with a tree he planted last year with Trees4Trees.

Pak Muchsinun’s story is one of perseverance, love for the land, and dedication to a greener future. He hopes that other farmers will be inspired to advance their villages and support reforestation efforts through programs like Trees4Trees. “Planting trees teaches you patience, and that’s what keeps me going,” he adds with a thoughtful nod. 

But for Pak Muchsinun, the trees represent something much larger than his own farm. Through his work with Trees4Trees, he’s helping to build a community that shares responsibility for the environment. It’s about leaving behind not just a greener Kenteng, but a legacy of hope and stewardship for future generations. 

Muchsinun with the Trees4Trees team
Muchsinun with the Trees4Trees team, cultivating a greener future on his land.

Written by Teresia Miranti | Source compiled by Lailatul KH | Photograph by Y. Desennita