 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/ed76c921-09ef-4f17-929b-7425e63aa22c.jpg)

\
A simple white cap and rubber boots are everyday sights at the plant restoration nursery in [Pematang Limau](https://kaleka.id/village/pematang-limau) Village. They are the trademark of Mbah Trisno, who is in charge of monitoring the progress of the nursery on a daily basis.

\
Although born in Nganjuk, East Java, in 1951, [Pematang Limau](https://kaleka.id/village/pematang-limau) has been his home for over 44 years. His journey began in 1970, from Central Java to Aceh, to participate in government programs. Ever since – following the dynamic economic flow of the era – Mbah Trisno has made the choice to live far from his homeland.

\
Although Mbah Trisno is fully occupied selling chips, *peyek*, and butterfly pea flower tea to his many loyal customers, he can still make time for ecosystem restoration activities in [Pematang Limau](https://kaleka.id/village/pematang-limau) Village. His occupation, which is quite the opposite, does not prevent him from joining the restoration team.

\
However, his previous experience as a patchouli farmer years ago can be applied to the nursery process. So far, many restoration plant seeds have been collected, namely 500 Langiran seedlings, 500 Galam seedlings, 1,500 Albasia seedlings, 625 Pinang seedlings, 625 Petai seedlings, and 600 fruit seedlings.

 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/365bf567-819e-415d-a859-501972de13f6.jpg)

\
A rooster crowing accompanied our conversation with Mbah Trisno that morning. With a friendly smile, he said he had joined the restoration team on November 2, 2022. In addition, although he is no longer young, he still contributes to society by being a Tanggul Harapan Forest Farmers Group chairperson. Not only has Mbah Trisno mastered the nursery procedure, he also has in-depth understanding of ecosystem restoration as a whole.

\
"The soil conditions here are fertile and do not contain peat, so they are only slightly acidic for the mineral soil category," said Mbah Trisno. With the addition of specific doses of dolomite, the soil's acidity level can be addressed, and the soil can be replanted after moss growth. Mbah Trisno understands very well that moss growth is one of the indicators of soil fertility.

\
 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/c593d754-393c-486e-8d11-4e0c6468032c.jpg)

\
Despite his experience, the nursery restoration process is not without its obstacles. "It is challenging to find seedlings for certain plants such as Laban and Resak. If seedlings have been obtained, they die as soon as we replant them," Mbah Trisno added.

\
Another obstacle is in training the community in the nursery process. "Maybe we have failed three times. Fortunately, progress started to be visible in the fourth trial," he admitted. Even so, he remained enthusiastic about going through the process. "From the outcomes of this ecosystem restoration, when I am no longer here, at least I can leave a legacy that the community can remember," he added.

\
With an optimistic outlook, Mbah Trisno said he wanted to witness and benefit from this ecosystem restoration activity. "My favorite fruits are Petai and Durian. We can pick and eat them directly for free. If we buy them, the price is quite expensive," he said, laughing. He envisions that there will be various lush trees, and the locals will farm a variety of crops.

\
The village will also become more sustainable. "Hopefully, this restoration activity can benefit the village community and improve their standard of living to make it more feasible, because the community can do intercropping farming after this restoration activity," said Mbah Trisno, full of hope for the future.

\
\
*Writer: [Zellia Pramya Dendra Handyman](https://kaleka.id/person/zellia-pramya-dendra-handyman)*

 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/346a7d36-4646-4c92-acbf-fa60e2301691.jpg)

\
Peci putih sederhana dan sepatu boot karet, dua hal tersebut sudah bukan menjadi pemandangan asing di tempat penyemaian benih tanaman restorasi di Desa [Pematang Limau](https://kaleka.id/village/pematang-limau). Begitulah keseharian Mbah Trisno yang bertanggung jawab untuk proses pembibitan tanaman.

\
Pria kelahiran Nganjuk tahun 1951 ini sudah lebih dari 44 tahun menetap di desa tersebut. Perjalanan merantaunya di mulai pada tahun  1970 dari Jawa Tengah ke Aceh untuk mengikuti program pemerintah. Sejak saat itu – mengikuti arus perekonomian yang dinamis pada era tersebut – Mbah Trisno sudah memantapkan hatinya untuk hidup di perantauan jauh dari tanah kelahirannya. \n  \n Meskipun disibukkan dengan berjualan keripik, peyek dan teh bunga telang, Mbah Trisno masih dapat meluangkan waktunya untuk kegiatan restorasi ekosistem di Desa[Pematang Limau](https://kaleka.id/village/pematang-limau) walau sudah banyak memiliki pelanggan. Latar belakang profesi yang cukup bertolak belakang tidak menjadi penghalang baginya untuk bergabung dengan tim restorasi ini.

\
Namun, sepertinya pengalaman Mbah Trisno yang pernah menjadi petani nilam beberapa tahun silam dapat Beliau terapkan di kegiatan pengadaan bibit restorasi. Sejauh ini, sudah banyak bibit tanaman restorasi yang dikumpulkan, yaitu ada 500 bibit Langiran, 500 bibit Galam, 1.500 bibit Albasia, 625 bibit Pinang, 625 bibit Petai, dan 600 bibit buah-buahan.

\
 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/bfd7eda4-6752-48fe-ae2c-b5023b848d1b.jpg)

\
Suara ayam berkokok menemani pembicaraan kami dengan Mbah Trisno pagi itu. Dengan senyumnya yang ramah, Mbah Trisno mengutarakan bahwa Beliau belum lama bergabung dengan tim restorasi ini, yaitu pada tanggal 2 November 2022. Di usianya yang sudah tidak muda lagi, Mbah Trisno juga masih dapat meluangkan waktu untuk berpartisipasi dalam Kelompok Tani Hutan Tanggul Harapan sebagai ketua. Tidak hanya menguasai ilmu-ilmu pembibitan, pemahaman Mbah Trisno mengenai restorasi ekosistem secara keseluruhan juga cukup mendalam.

\
“Kondisi tanah di sini cukup subur dan bukan gambut, hanya sedikit masam saja untuk kategori tanah mineral,” ujar Mbah Trisno. Dengan penambahan dolomit, tingkat kemasaman tanah dapat diatasi dan tanah dapat ditanami kembali setelah adanya pertumbuhan lumut. Mbah Trisno memahami betul bahwa pertumbuhan lumut adalah salah satu indikator kesuburan tanah.

\
 ![](https://petani.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ourstoryentity/7c358fbb-7246-4f9a-a3e9-8d7c4120c946.jpg)

\
Dengan pengalaman Mbah Trisno yang panjang, proses pembibitan restorasi ini bukan berarti tanpa adanya hambatan. “Saat ini susah sekali untuk menemukan bibit anakan untuk tanaman tertentu seperti laban dan resak. Jika bibit anakannya sudah didapatkan, tidak lama kemudian mati ketika dicoba untuk ditanam kembali,” ungkap Mbah Trisno.

\
Ada pun kendala lainnya, yaitu dalam melatih masyarakat pada proses pembibitan. “Mungkin sudah ada tiga kali kami ini gagal. Untungnya, pada percobaan keempat sudah terlihat adanya kemajuan,” Mbah Trisno mengakui. Walau begitu, Mbah Trisno tetap semangat dalam menjalani prosesnya. “Dari hasil kegiatan ini, ketika saya sudah tidak ada, setidaknya ada sisa-sisa hasil pekerjaan saya yang dapat dikenang oleh masyarakat,” Mbah Trisno menambahkan.

\
Dengan sorot mata yang optimis, Mbah Trisno mengutarakan ingin dapat melihat dan menikmati hasil dari kegiatan restorasi ekosistem ini. “Buah kesukaan saya itu petai dan durian, bisa dipetik dan dinikmati secara langsung dan gratis, kan kalau beli harganya lumayan,” ungkap Mbah Trisno sambil tertawa. Desa juga akan menjadi lebih lestari setelahnya, Mbah Trisno membayangkan adanya berbagai pepohonan rimbun, masyarakat desa bertani dan ada bermacam-macam tanaman palawija.

\
“Semoga kegiatan restorasi ini dapat bermanfaat untuk masyarakat desa dan meningkatkan taraf hidup menjadi lebih layak karena masyarakat bisa bertani secara tumpang sari setelah kegiatan restorasi ini.” ucap Mbah Trisno penuh harapan.

 \n 

*Penulis: [Zellia Pramya Dendra Handyman](https://kaleka.id/person/zellia-pramya-dendra-handyman)*

descriptioneng-lce9h64xvovnf-tn1axxk

descriptioneng-m0zq75ruse2nlbianozc7

descriptioneng-ukfckgxyjbrhojkfv7fy5

descriptioneng-qvxw-uibtcjmyguj25dep

descriptioneng-kirdieojndiwajcoqbrks

descriptioneng-s61988scm7xxhccktzbbb

descriptioneng-niecjh7hixydohvcuez_f

descriptioneng-tz7ptbaipidmkyx_qzvnk

thumbnail

descriptioneng-skrp9ne5nvhwyfn1e6ad0

descriptioneng-tyonnphkpe1y1mg4sx-4d

descriptioneng-kv37l76jv9elu00mx2ch2

descriptionidn-ijey4dhfr13hlp8vnidyl

descriptionidn-aknoiptzagw5phhwphijm

descriptionidn-msoz3j_7nzsnngif-xjzn

Mbah Trisno: Age is no Longer a Constraint to Restoring Nature

Mbah Trisno: Merestorasi Alam tanpa Terhalang oleh Usia