Month: April 2024

One Woman’s Story: Ratiyem the Farmer and Devoted Housewife

In Indonesia, social convention often dictates that a women’s place is in the home. But Ratiyem doesn’t care about convention. This 46-year-old farmer from Gunungsari Village in Kebumen, Central Java believes women have a right to work and follow their dreams. During her life, she has taken a long, hard road to independence.

Nothing ever came easy for Ratiyem. Trapped in a cycle of poverty from an early age, her education was cut short when her family couldn’t pay the school fees. Ever since then, she’s been working hard to make ends meet. As a teenager, she took a job as a housemaid in Semarang, 170 kilometers away from her home and family.

She worked hard in the big city for more than 10 years, but always felt like it wasn’t where she was meant to be. “I liked working in Semarang, because I could make a living,” explains Ratiyem. “But if I kept working there, there would be no-one to take care of my kids and my husband. I knew I had to return to my village,” she added.

A woman’s work is never done

After returning to her village, Ratiyem was determined to provide for her children with the education she never had. Together with her husband, she put her time, her heart and soul into working the soil.

“I had a field measuring about 500 sqm and thought I could make some money by planting cassava and taro, as they’re always in high demand,” she explains. “My happiest moment as a farmer came when harvesting that first crop and the price was good. It made all the effort worthwhile.”

Ratiyem balances her work as a farmer with her role as a mother and member of her community. “Early in the morning, after taking care of breakfast and getting the kids ready for school, I walk around the village to collect grass for my cattle. Then, I tend to my field and nurture the growing plants.”

Growing stronger through the tree-planting program

In 2022, Ratiyem was contacted by Trees4Trees, who invited her to become a grower for a tree-planting program in collaboration with Hong Kong – based TREE Ltd. Through this program, she received free seedlings and organic fertilizer, and was able to develop her farming skills with access to new knowledge.

“I received 200 trees, including sengon, suren, and coffee,” remembers Ratiyem, who believes her own personal development will soon be reflected in the growth of her crops and the increased income it brings. “Being part of this program has provided me with a wealth of new farming knowledge through training, especially organic farming methods. This knowledge has made a big difference, as it guides farmers like me in managing our fields more effectively,” she added.

The importance of independence

Ratiyem takes great pleasure in being close to nature, living off the land she was born in. “Unlike the big city, where I had to buy all my food, here my fields provide me with everything I need,” she says, before adding that in her role as farmer she also has a responsibility to support food security.

Through the Trees4Trees program, Ratiyem hopes to provide food for her community and earn extra income to support her family. Looking to the future, she wants to put more food on more tables, by starting up a catering business with ingredients sourced directly from her field.

“I want to continue working and being productive,” she explains. “To me, it’s vital for women to work and generate income, so we don’t just rely on men to meet daily expenses. As working women, we can play a role in supporting the family financially,” she added.

For Ratiyem and the many women farmers like her, independence means more than just following your own path. It is about overcoming obstacles, leading by example, and doing whatever it takes to provide for those who rely on you. With support from Trees4Trees, inspirational women like Ratiyem will continue to be a source of pride to their families and leaders in their communities.

Green Harmony: 6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Surrounded by Greenery

Every day presents an opportunity to support our environment, but Earth Day calls for something special. Observed annually on April 22nd, Earth Day signifies global unity for environmental protection. April also isn’t just about Earth Day; it’s Earth Month, dedicated to promoting environmental preservation.

While this moment often focuses on raising awareness about safeguarding our surrounding environment, we believe celebrating Earth Day is more than that—it’s about taking action. It’s also not just about doing eco-friendly activities during the celebration; it’s about committing to sustainable habits every day.

Below, we present ideas to celebrate Earth Day in harmony with trees and greenery, honoring their essential role as the foundation of life on Earth. These suggestions can be seamlessly integrated into your daily habits and lifestyle, spanning from activities at home to outdoor endeavors. Let’s take steps to protect them!

Embracing green hobbies at home

Contributing to a heathier planet can be done from home by embracing green hobbies. It offers a profound connection to the Earth while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of nature in the comfort of your own space. You can dig into the soil, start gardening, and cultivating vegetables, fruits, or ornamental plants and flowers.

You can also get creative with eco-friendly art projects using materials from nature like fallen leaves, twigs, and flowers. Create unique décor pieces such as wall hangings and room accents while respecting and preserving the environment.

Green Harmony: 6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day — Photo: Pexel

Engaging sport within nature

Discovering serenity in nature while nurturing your health is one of the best activities to partake in during Earth Month. Immerse yourself in outdoor activities like mountain hiking, forest jogging, or outdoor yoga to enhance both your physical and mental well-being, while deepening your connection to nature. It can also be easily integrated into our daily lifestyle.

Commit to growing trees, not just planting

Planting trees may be simple but growing them requires commitment. Committing to plant and nurture trees until they mature is crucial for better supporting our Earth. As we know, mature trees offer immense benefits, from carbon capture to supporting biodiversity and stimulating local economies. Choose for growing native trees to enhance biodiversity habitats.

If space is limited, consider donating trees with us. We’ll not only plant them on your behalf, but also ensure their thriving growth, enriching the environment. We also partner with local tree growers from the community, bolstering local economies with every tree planted. Whether you plant and grow trees solo or join our initiative, it’s a meaningful way to support our Earth better.

Be a responsible consumer to environment

When you’re buying nature-based items, such as forest products like honey, wooden furniture, or paper, prioritize products that are responsibly sourced and don’t harm forests or the environment. Look for labels that verify this.

We are excited to share that products with the Trees4Trees hang tag indicate responsible manufacturing practices, as Trees4Trees plants a tree for each item produced. If you’re a business owner needing environmentally friendly verification for your products, consider teaming up with us to plant trees. Contact us for more information! Contact us to learn more!

Leisure time surrounded by greenery

Spend leisure time in nature for proven physical and mental health benefits. Whether strolling through a nearby park or forest bathing, it’s a serene way to celebrate Earth Day, reducing stress, anxiety, and boosting your immune system. Find a forested area to immerse yourself in the natural setting, surrounded by trees, and listen to the soothing sounds of nature.

Volunteering and applying tree-planting practices

Help maintain forest density by participating in tree-planting events. Thicker forest cover means more carbon sequestration. Volunteer to learn proper tree-planting techniques and contribute to reforestation efforts. Afterwards, you can apply the techniques and knowledge to plant trees in your surroundings to sustain the practice sustainably.

If you’re interested in hosting a tree-planting event with your community, you can also organize one with us to green our Earth. Contact us for more information!

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UPS: Delivering Positive Environment Impacts

Search for Setu District on Google Earth, and the satellite throws up a lonely patch of green, squeezed between Bogor and the two major industrial centers of Jakarta and Bekasi.

In recent years, the forested fringes of Setu have been giving way to new residential areas, shopping centers, buildings, and other infrastructure projects. The roads are increasingly clogged with cars, chugging to work in a cloud of petrol fumes.

But solutions are on the way. Working in collaboration with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, the United Parcel Service (UPS) recently began a tree-planting program in Setu District that is bringing a breath of fresh air back to this important buffer zone.

UPS contributions to the global sustainability movement

On March 9, 2024, UPS set up camp at Hobbit Hills Eco Village for their second Indonesian tree planting project in the past year. According to Maya Sarininta, General Manager of UPS Indonesia, the latest initiative reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental improvement.

“This tree-planting event is part of our global sustainability program, which aims to plant 50 million trees worldwide by 2030,” said Maya during the event at Hobbit Hills. “Last year, we planted 1,200 mangroves in the coastal area of Jakarta. This year, we will continue the tree-planting program by planting various trees in terrestrial areas to enhance Jakarta’s buffer zone. We hope to plant more trees next year with the participation of our staff, working towards our global goal,” she added.

The many benefits of an urban forest

UPS’ program successfully planted 600 trees, comprising eight different species that will eventually grow into a new urban forest. These include local hardwood trees such as jabon, sengon, suren, and trembesi, which provide shade and can even help reduce temperatures in urban areas.

Multi-purpose trees like durian, petai, and clove were also planted at the site. These trees support the environment by sucking up carbon dioxide, while also helping keep a lid on pollution and heat. Even better, their fruits can provide local communities with sustainable new livelihoods.

Pandu Budi Wahono is Trees4Trees Program Manager. Speaking at the event, he noted that all partners involved in the project were excited about the long-term changes a bit of green could bring to the neighborhood. “We hope all the trees planted today on this farm will be properly nurtured and beneficial to the next generation, particularly in this area,” said Pandu.

The GM of UPS Indonesia (left) receives a tree-planting certificate from Trees4Trees Program Manager (right)

It takes a village: Working together for a greener future

The tree-planting event brought together staff from UPS and Hobbit Hills Eco Village, along with members of the local community as volunteers. “We involved UPS staff from all departments and invited families, including children, who were eager to join,” explained Mohammed Akbar, Chief of Community UPS Indonesia who was the tree-planting event coordinator.

“I planted over ten trees today,” giggled Misha, one of several children who joined in. “It was exciting to know the correct ways to plant trees, and of course, to get my hands dirty without any complaints from my mom! I hope I can come back here to pick their fruits,” she added.

UPS staff and their families learn how to plant trees using a sustainable, organic approach.

Misha’s Mom, Ira, is a member of UPS Indonesia staff. She believes kids should be engaged in environmental education from a young age. “I brought my two children here to teach them about nature, how trees give us life and essential elements like oxygen. It’s crucial for the next generation to learn and contribute to nature preservation,” said Ira.

A UPS staff member planted trees with her children. Involving children in the tree-planting event as volunteers was part of the early education to introduce the importance of protecting nature and planting trees to the next generation

The latest tree planting program from UPS is a small part of their global sustainability goals. “UPS supports any environmental movement that makes a positive impact on the environment, especially efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat global warming for a better future,” noted Farah, the UPS Co Chief of Community who was the assistance coordinator of the tree-planting event at the end of a long day’s planting on Hobbit Hill Eco Village.

From Setu District to the rest of West Java, UPS Indonesia is working to positively impact communities and the environment as part of their global sustainability commitments. Through fruitful partnerships with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, UPS is determined to deliver on its green initiative.

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