Rabu, 23 Oktober 2013

My experience as Organic Agriculture Program at TBL Sulawesi



RINDU ... Poso - Palu - Parigi - Pamona
Anyone who has been to the city and surrounding Palu, definitely feel the sea breeze Tomini quiet lull. Longing to return there is reasonable because many are already captured the heart charm, especially when it had to stay there long enough.
This trip I experienced when I went to Sumbersari Village, Central Sulawesi Sumbersari precisely in the Parigi district. Parigi Moutong ( Parimo ) .
Since the beginning of my arrival, so many things blew. There I stayed in the village Nambaru , southern Sumbersari village, at the Daryatun Ridwan Kesaulya family's home, one of the leaders of the institution where I served for 3 months at the time. The villagers there who embraced Islam , Catholicism and Hinduism, so it is quite heterogeneous. Most of the villagers are migrants from Bali, so the area often is referred as Kampung Bali. Nevertheless they coexist with native tribes namely Kaili. Balinese culture is very strong in the emerging architects building houses, ornaments and Balinese rituals are still preserved there. I was lucky because my job on the sidelines, I was allowed to see and photograph some of the rituals in the temple when the great days in the Hindu village. They ( the villagers ) are very open with my presence, " the rustic tourist " who enthusiastically photographing their activities . Seems like at Bali for me, anyway.
Already 7 years have passed, but the memories of Parigi and Palu are still evident to this day. Blowing wind chime waves like beautiful music to enjoy while eating grilled fish Lebo Beach Parigi . Sights along the Gulf coast Tomini, Shark sculpture that became the town mascot Parigi, contrasting views of the Kaili cow train passing in the middle of city traffic. It was typical, there are no in other places. Banana fried with tomato sauce often made ​​me yearn to go back there. One again, Kaledo eaten warm with boiled cassava, is a local culinary but apparently very thumb level. Borne definitely addictive eating Kaledo. Really pretty, really class up. I have tried Kaledo at the food stalls are in near UNTAD ( University Tadulako ) Palu .
The trip in the middle of a job
A little about me. Everyday I live in Salatiga and work alongside villagers do rural development programs in several districts in Central Java. Although I had never previously dreamed up in Palu - Parimo - Sumbersari, I admit I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of experience there, although it should be away from family, especially away from my daughter who was 18 months old . That's OK for a while only.
I was asked by a partner institution to be a motivator organic farming program with a series of activities ranging from program planning, budgeting, building compost hut and organic cultivation of rice and vegetables in the village for 3 months (May-July 2008). One group of farmers in the village of Parigi District of Tindaki be part of this event that is always involved in discussions and practices composting and natural pesticides. It is expected that this group will be a pioneer and develop patterns of organic farming to other farmers in the vicinity.
The first day of my arrival in the village Nambaru, I was greeted by an electricity power problem. According to the host who is also one of the leaders of the institution where I served ( Ibu Atun / Daryatun Ridwan Kesaulya ) did so, electricity turned off on a regular time, day off, day on, and so on. Only villages thus imposed by PLN, while in Palu City, the power is on continuously. I had to familiarize myself with it, unlike in Java ( it is outrageous that in Java, electrical waste is very high while outside Java, many of which have no electricity byuh ... byuh ... byuh .... ) .
Back in Nambaru, instead of the next day turn the power is on, it turns off continued into the first 10 days I stayed there. Reportedly because there was improvement in one network. Truly an unforgetable experience. But I do not want to sink into the darkness of the dull condition. I'm trying to enjoy every day, every hour, every minute and second in the area with so much valuable experience. The water in the house was taken from a manual electric pump. Therefore, power failure, be " Indonesia Raya " to take the water manually. Well , okay, it was counted sport. It's cool too. If the afternoon, I played guitar and sang with Ibu Atun and her children. Incidentally Ibu Atun also love to play guitar. So we took turns to accompany singing Franky-Jane songs, childhood songs, Air Supply, Reo Speed ​​Wagon, metal, folk songs, Dian Pisesa, Meriem Belina, Betaria Sonata, keroncong and dangdut songs.


One more thing that I remember Moringa leaf vegetable cooked with coconut milk and a little seasoning but very delicious incredible. Incidentally there moringa tree in the backyard. If in Salatiga, Moringa tree is very rare. Although there may still exist, but I have never seen a Moringa tree in Salatiga and ather areas in Java.
Agreement initially, I should be in there for 3 full months ( May-July 2008) without back home. But I am surprised by TBL because during process, at the journey I am allowed a week off to homecoming meet my family in Salatiga before finishing the job in three months, a consequence I had to extend the duration of 1 week to 3 months of my work in it. Ah , no problem.
At that time in our cooperation with partner institutions are also to conduct assessments and surveys in a church program for the development of organic farming. I was invited to an adventure for 3 days and 3 nights traveling Palu - Poso. We visited the center for silkworm farms, pig farms and cattle grazing in Napu. On the way to Napu many new things that I have encountered among the illegal logging of forests in Lore Lindu National Park. We see that the protected forest has been severely degraded by illegal logging. The place was called Dongi - Dongi. Our group spent the night in the Wuasa Village, North Lore District Poso overnight, the rest slept in the car during the trip.
Back to Sustainable Agriculture in Rural Sumbersari and Nambaru
Sustainable agriculture is a wise choice to face the food crisis that is in direct conflict with environmental damage and degradation due to the use of fertilizers and pesticides made ​​from plants that are relatively active toxic chemicals. We are often hesitant to start on less land, and fragmented. It should be applied to the Sustainable Agriculture vast expanse that minimize contamination with external inputs from the surrounding land ideally. However the real conditions in Indonesia is very difficult to find a wide stretch of land owned by one person.
Facing this, we can do are : organizing the rural landless peasants but to form a vast expanse adjacent to the development of Sustainable Agriculture. For the benefit of present and that I was asked to initiate ideas, conduct experiments on the land and home composting and organize farmers who have land adjacent to each other to be brought together in one organization and with implementing Sustainable Agriculture. Some of our plans stacking together. Some activities take place in the office and most of the other activities that involve the farmers start a discussion about their dreams, their farming conditions, what can be done to achieve that dream, until the discussion of the globalization of agriculture, the dangers of chemical pesticides and how to build up farmer organizations with the practices of making compost, organic liquid fertilizer and organic pesticide. It is not everything, but at least inspire farmers to develop sustainable agriculture of their own land.
Composting takes place smoothly involving farmer groups, staffs and public institutions around TBL, and Nambaru Sumbersari village. Planting rice in the rice fields and vegetable gardens have also been carried out. The total area for rice and vegetables about 1 acre. I suggest to continue to make the nursery so that older plants have been harvested , there is a new breed of replacement. It have to be done continuously, so vegetables harvesting can held continuously also.


All compost material is made in two parts to be fermented at 2 different times. The second and third day, the temperature warmed up, showed normal decomposition process occurs. The heat is not as hot as the use of straw so that reversal is done only once, the rest is only monitored without reversed.
Development of Organic Agriculture began to be understood by many farmers. At least they have been changes over the month of May, when the building was home compost alone. Communities in two adjacent villages were increasingly is very enthusiastic, ask and come see directly at compost hut. The next big job is waiting for is the maintenance of vegetable gardens and rice.
I teach farmers to make a liquid fertilizer subsequent fertilization. KCl liquid from soaking water coconut fiber. Liquid phosphorus of banana and juice. While liquid N from animal urine or liquid from the leaves of green manure or sewage gliricidia bean harvest.
In addition to the activities in the field, I was also asked to share about the preparation of the Logical Frame Work and discuss plans for enhanced sustainable agricultural development.
The discussion was done yesterday because there are a lot of growing minds and do not always find a point of agreement. Often the discussion continued informally until a few days with Ibu Atun.
For 3 months I interact with Ibu Atun family. We often discussmanything, not only work topic but family, hobby, other experiences also. Not always agree, but we used to talk about ideas to enrich each other in the preparation of sustainable agriculture programs. The afternoon after work sometimes we gather together gambas ( Oyong ) grow old in their home fence. Gambas is the kind of Cucurbitaceae used as a vegetables and replacement sponge for washing dishes also. Towards evening, we often sang together, alternately playing guitar, skip the dark evenings with the children and Ibu Atun families or relatives everytime elctris was power off 2 days regularly. In a Saturday or Sunday afternoon we played together in the rice mills in the next village. Play on the beach around the village. I really feel myself considered part of their family. And we can argue at length while at work and at home. Nothing feels hard and happy live together for 3 months, giving so many lessons. I learned many things from this family about friendship, hard work and simplicity, that never met elsewhere. Sometimes I miss the atmosphere of daily life in the range house (as we call it, because the walls are painted in orange color ) .
In the midst of a job that demands high concentration, I received news that my husband sick and need hospitalization in Salatiga Hospital. He wanted to go home but my work is not finished. I convinced myself that my family has been well taken care of by the people closest in Salatiga, so I threw away my worries.
That's far from the ups and downs of the family. Missed in the middle of a job ...
Three weeks before I came home the second time, the development of Organic Farming program was discussed at the board of trustees. This pilot program is considered good and convincing the board so it was decided to implement a more real future in the assisted groups. Arriving at harvest organic vegetables in crop demonstration plots, vegetable crops harvested in the order schedule. First harvest, spinach and kangkung sold purchased by agency staff. The next harvest vegetables were sold purchased by Sumbersari health center employees that office in front of our organic garden. While the new rice crop will be harvested one month again, when I've been in Salatiga later.
At weddings Party and Kaledo
A week ahead of my second return home, I was fortunate to be invited to attend the wedding party coeagues at Mangkutana South Sulawesi. The long journey was exciting. We traveled from Sumbersari through Poso, Tentena and keep heading Mangkutana districts. Poso town and Lake Tentena is a very beautiful place. When he reached the city, we passed through the points where the unrest that has now returned to normal and safe. Glide friends stories about riots which made ​​many people flee to the Poso and Palu Parigi . "The atmosphere was very tense time Poso" so said a friend who saw the riots. " Actually, there was never any conflict between natives of Poso, our religion is different from the first and was fine, there was no problem, whoever makes the unrest, not clear and no one knows " added another friend who is also from Poso .
I photograph the places that used to point the location of the riots .
Somehow, despite the previous days I was quite busy and tired with the activities of my farm, but I really enjoyed this trip without the slightest fatigue. Perhaps because of the influence of the spirit of going home soon .... he ... he .. he ...
Our group passed the waterfall Salunua wow... it was amazing ... waterfall staircase steps give way to the swift water debit is big enough, I guess. Combined waterfall sound of water dropping and splashing water every time I approached, it creates the scenery and the natural coolness that makes me reluctant to move the camera to focus elsewhere. The waterfall is located in the district Salunua Mangkutana, the road to Tana Toraja. The journey continues past the day and night. The total journey time of approximately 24 hours of Sumbersari Mangkutana in the family home until the groom. We stopped to spend the night there. The next day we drove the group bridegroom to the bride's house in South Pamona. There I attended a colleague's wedding which was held in conjunction with another bride 's wedding on the same day. Three pairs of brides getting married in a church wedding and 1 pair married in a mosque. After the religious ceremony each join them later, so there are 4 pairs of brides who were married in a custom event.
Afternoon to evening party was held. Within the party, the guests are invited "dero dance" , which is a typical dance of Poso together until morning. Although it does not follow through to completion, but I was really impressed with this dance and all the experiences there. In place of the bride we spend 1 night. The next day we returned to Sumbersari. Similar to the trip departure time, everything feels exciting. No tired at all. The next day, my agenda is getting ready to go to Salatiga.
By the way, during I stay in Nambaru, the host had a little party with kaledo main menu. Hmm ... get a delicious not inferior to that in a restaurant. It makes me remembering continues until now.
Remember Palu, so longing to repeat the exciting moments enjoy Kadelo. When eating at food stalls Kaledo, shoper was provide cassava and rice also. If you had the opportunity to enjoy a food stall Kaledo, please taste Kaledo with rice, and taste Kaledo with cassava, then compare them, and you will come to the absolute conclusion that the rice is not always suitable as a daily staple food of Indonesia. My tongue definitely show me that cassava more affinity with Kaledo. Hmm ... yummy ...
miss 3P
Plan activities have been carried out and I had to go back to Salatiga leave all the memories in Poso - Palu - Parigi - Pamona with a smile and hope for our motherland, namely earth. He/she/it is all of mothers who gave us life, water, food, energy and where we get back from all the fatigue life. From the belly of our mother country produced all the best quality for our lives. We should take care, respect and care for her/hhim/its, not dredge entrails and human greed for wealth.
Arriving in Salatiga, " atmospheric " Nambaru - Sumbersari - Parigi - Palu - Poso still strongly felt in myself for months afterwards. When I come back there...there could be more ... 

Missing 4P : Parigi-Palu-Posoplus .... Pamona .
Salatiga , 15 September 2013

edit April 19th 2014
Eunike Brahmantyo

 
 
 
RINDU …Palu-Parigi-Poso-Pamona

Siapapun yang pernah ke kota Palu dan sekitarnya, pasti merasakan angin laut Teluk Tomini yang tenang-tenang membuai. Kerinduan untuk kembali ke sana sangat beralasan karena banyak pesona yang terlanjur memikat hati, apalagi kalau sempat tinggal cukup lama di sana.
Perjalanan ini kualami saat aku ke Sulawesi Tengah tepatnya di Desa Sumbersari kec. Parigi kab. Parigi Moutong (Parimo). 
Sejak awal kedatanganku, begitu banyak hal mempesonaku. Di sana aku tinggal di desa Nambaru, sebelah Selatan Desa Sumbersari, di rumah keluarga Daryatun Ridwan Kesaulya, salah seorang pimpinan lembaga tempat aku bertugas selama 3 bulan. Penduduk desa itu ada yang menganut agama Islam, Kristen Katolik dan Hindu, jadi cukup heterogen. Sebagian penduduk desa itu adalah transmigran dari Bali, sehingga tak jarang daerah itu sering disebut sebagai Kampung Bali. Meskipun demikian mereka hidup berdampingan dengan warga asli yaitu suku Kaili. Budaya Bali sangat kental muncul dalam arsitek bangunan rumah, ornamen dan ritual-ritual Bali yang masih dilestarikan di sana. Aku beruntung karena di sela-sela pekerjaanku, aku diperbolehkan melihat dan memotret beberapa ritual di Pura saat hari-hari besar Hindu di desa itu. Mereka (warga desa) sangat terbuka dengan kehadiranku, "turis ndeso" yang antusias memotret kegiatan mereka. Wuih, serasa di Bali deh, pokoknya.

Sudah 5 tahun berlalu, namun ingatanku tentang Parigi dan kota Palu masih jelas hingga saat ini. Hembusan angin berpadu debur ombak bagaikan musik yang indah untuk dinikmati sambil makan ikan bakar di Lebo Beach Parigi. Pemandangan pantai di sepanjang Teluk Tomini, patung Ikan Hiu yang menjadi mascot kota Parigi, kontrasnya pemandangan kereta sapi orang Kaili yang lewat di tengah lalu lintas kota. Sungguh khas, tidak ada di tempat lain. Pisang goreng dengan sambal tomatnya sering membuatku rindu untuk kembali ke sana. Satu lagi, Kaledo hangat yang dimakan dengan singkong rebus, merupakan kekayaan kuliner asli nusantara kelas jempol yang mengundang para penikmat kuliner untuk mencobanya. Ditanggung pasti ketagihan makan Kaledo. Sungguh lho, benar-benar kelas jempol. Salah satu yang pernah kucoba adalah di warung makan Kaledo dekat Untad (Universitas Tadulako) Palu.

Perjalanan di tengah pekerjaan
O, iya sedikit tentang aku. Sehari-hari aku tinggal di Salatiga dan bekerja mendampingi masyarakat desa melakukan program-program pengembangan desa di beberapa kabupaten di Jawa Tengah. Meskipun sebelumnya tak pernah bermimpi sampai di Palu-Parimo-Sumbersari, kuakui aku sangat beruntung mendapat kesempatan mengalami suka dan duka pengalaman di sana, meskipun harus jauh dari keluarga, terutama jauh dari anakku yang waktu itu berumur 18 bulan. Tak mengapa untuk sementara saja.
Aku diminta oleh sebuah lembaga mitra untuk menjadi motivator program pertanian organik dengan rangkaian kegiatan mulai dari penyusunan rencana program, penganggaran, pembuatan rumah kompos dan budidaya padi dan sayuran organik di desa itu selama 3 bulan (Mei-Juli 2008). Satu kelompok tani di desa Tindaki Kecamatan Parigi Selatan menjadi bagian dari kegiatan ini yang selalu terlibat dalam diskusi dan praktek-praktek pembuatan kompos dan pestisida alami. Diharapkan kelompok ini akan menjadi pioneer dan mengembangkan pola budidaya organik kepada petani-petani lain di sekitarnya.
Hari pertama kedatanganku di desa Nambaru, aku disambut dengan pemadaman listrik. Menurut tuan rumah yang juga salah satu pimpinan lembaga tempatku bertugas (namanya Ibu Atun/ Daryatun Ridwan Kesaulya) memang begitu, listrik dipadamkan secara rutin, sehari padam, sehari nyala, demikian seterusnya. Hanya desa-desa yang diberlakukan demikian oleh PLN, sedangkan di kota Palu, listrik menyala terus. Aku harus membiasakan diri dengan itu, tidak seperti di Jawa (memang yang keterlaluan itu di Jawa, pemborosan listrik sangat tinggi sementara di luar Jawa banyak yang tidak bisa menikmati listrik, byuh...byuh...byuh....). 
Kembali di Nambaru, bukannya esok hari giliran listrik menyala, ternyata pemadaman listrik hari itu terus berlanjut hingga 10 hari pertama aku tinggal di sana. Kabarnya karena ada perbaikan di salah satu jaringannya. Benar-benar pengalaman tak terlupakan. Tetapi aku tidak mau tenggelam dalam suasana kegelapan yang membosankan. Aku berusaha menikmati setiap hari, setiap jam setiap menit dan detik di tempat itu dengan begitu banyak pengalaman berharga. Air di rumah itu diambil dari sumur menggunakan pompa listrik. Oleh karena listrik mati, jadilah "Indonesia Raya" alias menimba air secara manual. Yah, lumayan, itung-itung olah raga. Asik juga. Kalau sore, kumainkan gitar dan bernyanyi dengan Ibu Atun dan anak-anaknya. Kebetulan Ibu Atun juga suka bermain gitar. Jadi kami bergantian mengiringi sambil bernyanyi mulai lagu-lagu Franky-Jane, lagu kanak-kanak, lagu-lagu Air Supply, Reo Speed Wagon, metal, lagu-lagu daerah, lagu-lagu Dian Pisesa, Meriem Belina, Betaria Sonata, keroncong sampai lagu dangdut.
Satu lagi yang kukenang adalah sayur daun kelor yang dimasak dengan santan dan sedikit bumbu tapi luar biasa sedapnya. Kebetulan ada pohon kelor di halaman belakang. Kalau di Salatiga, pohon kelor sudah sangat langka. Meskipun mungkin masih ada, tetapi aku belum pernah menjumpai pohon kelor di Salatiga dan daerah-daerah di Jawa yang pernah kukunjungi.
Perjanjian awalnya, aku harus di sana selama 3 bulan penuh (Mei-Juli 2008) tanpa pulang. Pada perjalanannya aku diijinkan libur seminggu untuk mudik bertemu keluarga di Salatiga sebelum menyelesaikan pekerjaan di bulan ke tiga, konsekuensinya aku harus memperpanjang 1 minggu durasi kerjaku di bulan ke 3 itu. Ah, tak masalah.
Waktu itu dalam kerja sama lembaga kami dengan mitra tersebut juga dengan melakukan penjajagan dan survey di sebuah gereja untuk pengembangan program pertanian organic. Aku diajak berpetualang selama 3 hari 3 malam melakukan perjalanan Palu-Poso. Kami mengunjungi sentra peternakan ulat sutera, peternakan babi dan penggembalaan sapi di Napu. Dalam perjalanan ke Napu banyak hal baru yang aku temui di antaranya pembalakan liar hutan-hutan di Taman Nasional Lore Lindu. Kami melihat hutan lindung itu sudah mengalami kerusakan parah karena penebangan liar. Tempat itu disebut Dongi-Dongi. Rombongan kami bermalam di desa Wuasa Kec. Lore Utara Kab. Poso semalam saja, selebihnya tidur di mobil selama perjalanan.

Kembali ke Pertanian Lestari di Desa Sumbersari dan Nambaru
Pertanian Lestari merupakan pilihan bijak untuk menghadapi krisis pangan yang berbenturan langsung dengan kerusakan lingkungan dan degradasi lahan akibat penggunaan pupuk dan pestisida pabrik yang relatif berbahan aktif racun kimia. Kita sering ragu memulainya pada lahan sempit dan terpisah-pisah. Memang idealnya Pertanian Lestari diterapkan pada satu hamparan luas sehingga memperkecil kontaminasi dengan input luar dari lahan sekitarnya. Namun kondisi nyata di Indonesia sangat sulit menemukan lahan hamparan luas yang dimiliki satu orang.
Menghadapi hal itu, yang dapat kita lakukan adalah : mengorganisir petani-petani berlahan sempit namun berdekatan sehingga membentuk hamparan luas untuk pengembangan Pertanian Lestari. Untuk kepentingan itulah aku diminta hadir dan menginisiasi ide, melakukan percobaan di lahan dan rumah kompos dan mengorganisir petani yang memiliki lahan saling berdekatan untuk dihimpun menjadi satu organisasi dan bersama melaksanakan Pertanian Lestari. Beberapa rencana kami susun bersama. Beberapa kegiatan berlangsung di kantor dan sebagian besar lainnya kegiatan yang melibatkan para petani mulai dari diskusi tentang mimpi mereka, kondisi pertanian mereka, apa yang bisa dilakukan untuk meraih mimpi itu, sampai pada diskusi tentang globalisasi pertanian, bahaya pestisida kimia dan bagaimana membangun organisasi tani sampai dengan praktek-praktek membuat kompos, pupuk cair organik dan pestisida nabati. Itu bukan segalanya tetapi setidaknya memberi inspirasi petani untuk mengembangkan pertanian lestari dari idenya sendiri.
Pembuatan kompos berlangsung lancar melibatkan kelompok tani, staf lembaga dan masyarakat sekitar lokasi, Desa Sumbersari dan Nambaru. Penanaman padi di sawah dan sayuran di kebun juga telah dilakukan. Total luas areal untuk padi dan sayuran sekitar 1 hektar. Aku menganjurkan untuk terus membuat pembibitan agar kalau tanaman yang tua sudah dipanen, ada bibit baru penggantinya. Begitu terus, sehingga panen sayuran bisa berlangsung secara kontinyu.
Semua bahan kompos kemudian dibuat dalam 2 bagian untuk difermentasikan pada 2 waktu yang berbeda. Hari kedua dan ke tiga, suhunya menghangat, menunjukkan terjadi proses dekomposisi normal. Panasnya tidak sepanas yang menggunakan jerami sehingga hanya sekali dilakukan pembalikan, selebihnya hanya dipantau saja tanpa dibalik.
Pengembangan Pertanian Organik mulai dapat dipahami oleh banyak pihak. Setidaknya telah ada perubahan dibanding bulan Mei lalu ketika masih pembangunan rumah kompos saja. Masyarakat di dua desa yang berdekatan itu semakin bertambah banyak yang antusias, bertanya dan datang melihat langsung kegiatan di rumah kompos. Selanjutnya pekerjaan besar yang menunggu adalah pemeliharaan kebun sayuran dan padi.
Aku mengajari petani membuat pupuk cair untuk pemupukan susulan. KCl cair dari air rendaman sabut kelapa. Phospor cair dari pelepah pisang dan nira. Sedangkan N cair dari urine ternak atau pupuk hijau cair dari daun gamal atau limbah panen kacang.
Selain kegiatan di lapang, aku juga diminta berbagi tentang penyusunan Logical Frame Work dan mendiskusikannya untuk disempurnakan dalam rencana pengembangan pertanian lestari.
Diskusi berlangsung cukup lama karena ada banyak pikiran yang berkembang dan tidak selalu ditemukan satu titik kesepakatan. Bahkan sering diskusi itu berlanjut sampai beberapa hari secara informal bersama Ibu Atun.
Selama 3 bulan aku berinteraksi dengan keluarga Ibu Atun, kami sering berdiskusi. Tidak selalu sependapat namun kami biasa membicarakannya untuk saling memperkaya ide dalam penyusunan program pertanian lestari. Sore hari sepulang kerja kadang kami bersama mengumpulkan gambas (Oyong) tua yang tumbuh di pagar rumah mereka. Gambas jenis itu biasa digunakan sebagai pengganti spon untuk mencuci piring. Menjelang malam hari, kami sering bernyanyi bersama, bergantian main gitar, melewatkan malam-malam gelap bersama anak-anak dan keluarga Ibu Atun kalau pas listrik mati secara rutin 2 hari sekali. Di hari Sabtu atau Minggu siang kami bersama main di penggilingan padi kampung sebelah. Main di pantai sekitar desa. Aku benar-benar merasakan diriku dianggap bagian dari keluarga mereka. Dan kami bisa berdebat panjang lebar saat di kantor maupun di rumah. Tak terasa kebersamaan menjalani susah dan senang selama 3 bulan, memberikan begitu banyak pelajaran. Aku belajar banyak hal dari keluarga ini tentang persahabatan, kerja keras dan kesederhanaan, pelajaran yang tak pernah kutemui di tempat lain. Kadang aku rindu suasana keseharian di rumah oranye itu (begitulah kami menyebutnya, karena dindingnya bercat warna oranye).
Di tengah pekerjaan yang menuntut konsentrasi tinggi, aku menerima kabar suamiku sakit dan harus opname di Rumah Sakit Salatiga. Ingin rasanya segera pulang tetapi pekerjaanku belum selesai. Aku meyakinkan diriku bahwa keluargaku sudah diurus dengan baik oleh orang-orang terdekat di Salatiga, jadi kubuang jauh rasa kuatirku.
Begitulah suka duka jauh dari dari keluarga. Rindu di tengah pekerjaan...
Tiga minggu sebelum aku pulang yang kedua kalinya, program pengembangan Pertanian Organik ini dibahas di tingkat pengurus yayasan. Program percontohan ini dinilai baik dan meyakinkan pengurus sehingga diputuskan untuk diimplementasikan ke depan secara lebih nyata di kelompok-kelompok dampingan. Tiba saat panen sayuran organic di demplot tanaman, sayuran dipanen sesuai urutan jadual tanam. Panen perdana, bayam dan kangkung laris manis dibeli staf lembaga. Panen berikutnya sayuran-sayuran itu ludes dibeli para pegawai Puskesmas Sumbersari yang kebetulan kantornya di depan kebun organic kami. Sedangkan tanaman padi baru akan dipanen 1 bulan lagi, saat aku sudah berada di Salatiga nanti.

Di pesta pernikahan dan Pesta Kaledo
Seminggu menjelang kepulanganku yang ke dua, aku beruntung lagi karena diajak menghadiri pernikahan salah satu rekan di Mangkutana Sulawesi Selatan. Perjalanan panjang terasa mengasikkan. Kami menempuh perjalanan dari Sumbersari lewat Poso, Tentena dan terus menuju ke kecamatan Mangkutana. Kota Poso dan Danau Tentena adalah tempat yang sangat indah. Ketika sampai di kota itu, kami melewati titik-titik lokasi kerusuhan yang kini sudah kembali normal dan aman. Meluncurlah cerita teman-teman  tentang pecahnya kerusuhan yang membuat banyak warga Poso melarikan diri sampai ke Parigi dan Palu. “Suasana Poso sangat mencekam waktu itu”  demikian tutur salah seorang teman yang melihat langsung kerusuhan itu. “Sebenarnya tidak pernah ada konflik antar warga asli Poso, kami berbeda agama sejak dulu dan baik-baik saja, tidak pernah ada masalah, entah siapa yang bikin kerusuhan itu, tidak jelas dan tidak ada yang tahu” tambah seorang teman lain yang juga berasal dari Poso.
Aku memotret tempat-tempat yang dulu titik lokasi kerusuhan.
Entah mengapa, meskipun hari-hari sebelumnya aku cukup sibuk dan capek dengan kegiatan pertanianku, tapi aku benar-benar menikmati perjalanan ini tanpa rasa lelah sedikitpun. Mungkin karena pengaruh semangat sebentar lagi mau pulang….he…he..he…
Rombongan kami melewati air terjun Salunua yang wow…sungguh mengagumkan…terjunannya berundak-undak memberi jalan kepada derasnya air yang debitnya cukup besar kurasa. Terjunan air dipadu suara jatuhan air dan cipratan air setiap aku mendekat, semua itu menciptakan pemandangan dan kesejukan alami yang membuatku enggan memindahkan focus kamera ke tempat lain. Air terjun Salunua berada di kecamatan Mangkutana, jalan menuju Tana Toraja. Perjalanan berlanjut melewati siang dan malam. Total waktu perjalanan sekitar 24 jam dari Sumbersari sampai Mangkutana di rumah keluarga pengantin laki-laki. Kami singgah untuk bermalam di sana. Keesokan hari rombongan kami mengantar mempelai laki-laki ke rumah mempelai perempuan di Pamona Selatan. Di sana aku menghadiri pernikahan seorang rekan yang diselenggarakan bersamaan dengan pernikahan mempelai lain di hari yang sama. Tiga pasang pengantin menikah di gereja dan 1 pasang pengantin menikah di masjid. Usai upacara agama masing-masing mereka kemudian bergabung, sehingga ada 4 pasang pengantin yang dinikahkan dalam satu perhelatan adat. 
Siang hingga malamnya dilangsungkan pesta. Dalam pesta itu, para tamu diajak "badero", yaitu menari tarian khas Poso bersama-sama hingga pagi. Meskipun tidak mengikuti sampai selesai, tetapi aku benar-benar terkesan dengan tarian ini dan semua pengalaman di sana. Di tempat mempelai perempuan kami bermalam 1 malam. Esok harinya rombongan kami kembali ke Sumbersari. Hampir sama dengan perjalanan waktu berangkat, semua terasa mengasyikkan. Tak terasa lelah sedikitpun. Esok harinya, agenda utamaku adalah bersiap-siap pulang ke Salatiga.
O, iya selama tinggal di Nambaru, tuan rumah sempat mengadakan pesta kecil dengan menu utama kaledo. Hmm… sedapnya tidak kalah dengan yang di rumah makan. Itu membuatku terkenang terus hingga sekarang.
Ingat kota Palu, jadi rindu untuk mengulang saat-saat mengasyikkan menikmati hangatnya Kaledo yang uapnya masih mengepul. Bila makan Kaledo di warung makan, selain singkong juga disediakan nasi. Kalau teman-teman berkesempatan menikmati Kaledo di warung makan, silakan mencicipi  Kaledo dengan nasi, dan mencicipi Kaledo dengan singkong, bandingkan dan anda akan sampai pada kesimpulan mutlak bahwa ternyata nasi tidak selalu cocok sebagai pangan pokok harian orang Indonesia. Lidah saya membuktikan singkonglah yang lebih berjodoh dengan Kaledo. Hmm...yummy...

Rindu 3P
Rencana kegiatan telah terlaksana dan aku harus kembali ke Salatiga meninggalkan semua kenangan di Palu-Parigi-Poso-Pamona dengan senyum dan harapan untuk ibu pertiwi kita, yaitu bumi. Dialah ibu kita semua yang telah memberi hidup, air, makanan, energy dan tempat kita kembali dari segala kepenatan hidup. Dari perut ibu pertiwi kita dihasilkan segala yang terbaik untuk kehidupan kita. Selayaknya kita menjaganya, menaruh hormat dan merawatnya, bukan mengeruk isi perutnya untuk kekayaan dan keserakahan manusia.
Sesampai di Salatiga, “atmosfer” Nambaru-Sumbersari-Parigi-Palu-Poso masih sangat terasa di diriku sampai berbulan-bulan setelahnya. Kapan ya, bisa ke sana lagi… Rindu 3P: Parigi, Palu, Poso, tambah….Pamona.


Salatiga, 15 September 2013


Eunike Brahmantyo