Category: Cibening

This year, the rainy season is predicted end in April, because rain still falls
heavily in March. Cibening village is located near the sea where the rainy
season ends earlier than other places.

There are two routines that the workers always do, cleaning the plantation
area from grass and cutting/pruning the branches which disturb the trees
growing.

Once a year, the workers give fertilizer for the trees in the pilot project area
and there are about 1000 trees in one Ha land.

The best time to give the fertilizer is in the end of the rainy season, after it
is absorbed for several weeks than the sun light will change it as a nutrition.

“There are two gifts we should give our children; one is roots, and the
other is wings” (Pinterest quote)

The routines are done every day by the workers, they cut the grass and branches which will
disturb the growth of the trees and the nutrition. In rainy season, the grass grow fast and the
workers should cut it more often. The grass grows faster in the area with more sunlight. The
workers use grass cutters and machetes to cut the grass and branches. With the grass cutters
and machetes, they can clean the area about two hectares perday. Rainy season almost ends but
the grass in some area still a lot, the workers work harder because they walk on the hilly and
slippery land.

“Different fields, different grasshoppers; different seas, different fish”
(Indonesian proverb)

In January and February , rain falls heavily almost every day. It rains during
the day or night or all day long. Land is wed and muddy, water flows to the
lower place and covers ditches beside the road. The cold morning does not
stop the workers to go to the plantation but when it rains hard they stop
working and wait at the shelter and drink coffee to warm them. Although
they wear boots and raincoats, they have to aware of lightning and walk on
slopes.

The trees are whither during the hot season and turn green when it starts
raining. The new leaves grow on branches and twigs, the trees have big
canopy and cover the land. The hill looks green from the distance.

“Even though the forest is dense, water flows through it freely” (Taoist Proverb)

In many villages in Indonesia, people go to the field barefoot. They do not
have habits to wear/bring safety tools/equipments when they do farming or
fishing.

Goldteak’s workers always use safety footwear when they go to the
plantation, and when it rains they also use raincoats. Wearing safety
equipments when they work is a must, because it is a work safety regulation
that should be followed.

There are two bridges in the middle of the road to Cibening village, not only
motorbikes but also mini trucks pass the bridges to bring cassava, banana,
rice or construction materials every day. The river is not wide and deep but
the soil on the river banks are not strong enough to hold the erosion.
Several years ago, one of the bridge was broken down because of erosion,
and last month it happened again. Although not totally broken down but it
will be soon. People hand in hand to repair and rebuild the bridge and PT
Goldteak also participated by giving cement.

For the second time, James Lazar, representative from Petrolink International visited the
SD Cibeureum and Goldteak plantation in Cibening village. Together with Adi Iswanto,
they handed in the donation to the school (2 computers, 1 globe, and sport facilities).
They also shared the biscuits and milk to the children. Everyone was happy and James
ended the visit by playing football with the students in the yard.

James and Adi went to the area where we planted Teaks with extra treatment and they
observed the difference with the trees which have normal treatment. All trees look healthy
but the trees with extra treatment are growing bigger and healthier.

“It takes a whole village to raise a child” (African proverb)

We still feel hot air during the day, but in the afternoon or evening it
turns to be cold. The teak leaves are falling and the view on the hill
looks brownish. The workers work regularly in the plantation, but
lately they bring the raincoats because almost every afternoon it rains.
The Teak trees and other trees; Mahogany, Acacia and Jabon look
healthy and this year no decease attacked the trees, this is because
the workers take care the trees regularly.

Last year, the seedling was fail because the weather did not support it,
the seedling died because had less water. The workers did not collect
the seed because the rain season came earlier.
There are about a hundred young trees at the nursery at the moment
and new seedling bed is being prepared for new seedlings, workers
collect the seeds while they are working in the plantation.

Indonesia celebrated its 79th Independence Day on Sunday, August 17,
red white Indonesian flag raised and waved all over places for several days.
There were parades, competitions, parties every where, students came
to school to raise the flag and sing the national anthem “Indonesia Raya”.

Cibening village was also celebrating the Independence Day, people decorated
the village and the students also decorated the school.
All decorations had red white colors like Indonesian flag’s colors.
Goldteak’s workers also decorated the entrance to the plantation.

Everyone feels happy and blessed because now they can send their children
to school and most of the parents have jobs, but the most important thing is
the village has an electricity.

“If we are to teach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war
against war, we shall have to begin with the children” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Before Eid al-Fitr comes, every employees or workers will receive
the bonus, in Indonesia we call it “Lebaran Bonus”. This year Goldteak
gave Lebaran bonus to all the employees and the workers in the field
as much as one month salary/wage. The workers were happy because
they could buy Lebaran needs for their family earlier.
They also received some biscuits and syrup from other staffs in head
office. On the Lebaran day, the workers went to the Mosque to pray
and after that they received guests, neighbors or relatives. They always
a special lunch and sometimes they bring food or cookies when they
visit their relatives or neighbors.

Weeding is one of the activities in plantation, The work is getting hard and
difficult when the rainy season comes, the grass grow faster and the land is
slippery. Hot season usually starts in June but although July almost ends,
the rain still comes two or three times a week.

The easy way to do weeding is to give roundup to kill grass, but it is not
recommended for the plantation who applied no chemical spray for any
trees. Goldteak still depends on the workers to do the weeding, especially in
the open area where it gets more rain and sun light, the grass grows faster
comparing the area under the trees. To make the trees grow well, we need
to weed regularly and if it possible we have to avoid chemicals.

I do some of my best thinking while pulling weeds. (Martha Smith)