Gardening Is Another Income Solution Due To COVID-19

Hydroponic Gardens (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

JAKARTA - The application of the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) statsus to prevent and suppress the spread of COVID-19 is considered ineffective. The problem is that many people still choose to do activities outside the home because of the declining financial condition.

Those who choose to keep working are the majority of entrepreneurs and workers with daily wages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were the ones who were directly affected on the economic side. In fact, it is not uncommon for them to lose their jobs or livelihoods.

For that, one solution to overcome the declining financial condition is by gardening in the yard of the house. Plants that can be chosen are vegetables because they are a daily necessity and can be sold.

Indonesian Gardening Activist Winartania said the types of vegetables that are good for planting and helping the community's economy during the COVID-19 pandemic are green vegetables. However, you must also choose one that is not too difficult to maintain.

"Plant simple plants but they can meet the needs of people at home, which are consumed by many residents. For example, spinach, water spinach, and planting is not too difficult. We can plant it easily, if it is excess we can sell it," said Winartania at Graha BNPB, Jakarta, Monday. , May 4.

Then, in the planting process it is recommended to use the hydroponic method. Because, this is a solution to the limited land which is the reason for the community.

Planters with the hydroponic method can use used items such as pipes or others as a container. Later, the pipes will be arranged in the area of the existing land in the house. Because, this method can use a vertical or horizontal pattern.

"This does not need a large area of land, but it can go upwards or can be walled. But it needs to know the motion of the sun. Because it is rich in vegetables, it takes 6 hours of sun," said Winartania.

Meanwhile, for people who have a large area to use ordinary methods or directly on the ground, fertilizer application is highly recommended to fertilize the planted plants.

Fertilizer can also be made by utilizing everything around it. Like compost made from organic waste.

"Fertilizer is available in our kitchen, from organic waste to compost. How do you do it? If I use the biopore hole, the organic waste can go in there, so the soil will be directly nourished. Or if you want to use the composter that can also be used, "concluded Winartania.

On the previous occasion, Chairman of the Indonesia Telemedia Alliance, Purnawan, said that gardening activities can also be an alternative to kill boredom. By gardening, foam reduces the potential for stress to a person so that the body's immunity is good and is not susceptible to disease.

"There are many things that can be done, for example planting trees in the yard, that can help control emotions during social distancing," said Purnawan.