AMUNTAI, South Kalimantan: State high school SMAN 1 Paminggir, North Hulu Sungai, students have turned water hyacinth into organic fertilizer, Anataranews reported.
Head of SMAN 1 Paminggir Sukiman on Thursday said that so far the students manage their school gardens using the composted manure from water hyacinth roots that grow in their school compound.
SMAN 1 Paminggir is located in a remote area on swamp and encourages its students to green the school by managing the school toga garden.
Sukiman said, limited land, especially school buildings are above the marsh, it does not mean negating greening activities for student learning activities.
“We use local wisdom to turn the readily available water hyacinth weed into fertilizer to fill the pots and on land available around the school,” he said in Paminggir.
Sukiman describes how to make a fertilizer from water hyacinth, using a decomposer tool which can be found at farm supply stores.
Through gardening, students of SMA 1 Paminggir are trying to cultivate a number of types of plants, including Selendri which has high enough sale value.
Seeing the strong determination and creativity of students, the teachers are also on board to make SMAN 1 Paminggir as a school-based environmental concern.
Meanwhile, PT Adaro Indonesia from the beginning has been provided assistance and support through CSR programs. “Alhamdulillah the PT Adaro has helped forge a partnership with us to develop a school culture based on environmental concerns” he said.