But over time I began to see it differently. It became a kind of practice for me to be more patient, to listen, and to be present in the moment. When you teach kids you can’t fake your enthusiasm. They feel when you are honest and they respond to that honesty with curiosity and excitement. Their questions are often simple but they make you think deeper. It reminds you of the “why” behind what you do.

Now I can say I feel stronger around them, maybe even more open. I think they like me, and I enjoy seeing them laugh while getting their hands dirty in the garden.

Here are some of the children’s garden activities I’ve been part of around Bayan:

1. Kids garden with Tanah Inaq Foundation

Tanah Inaq Foundation helps local children broaden their horizons by teaching real life skills. Every Sunday they hold English classes in a fun and practical way. The kids learn through crafts, simple games, and sometimes even role play in Saifana’s kitchen where they serve food to guests and learn to communicate naturally.

I supported them in building their first kids garden as a new space for learning. The garden became an outdoor classroom where the children learned English through context, describing colors of leaves, talking about shapes of vegetables, and learning new words by doing real things. They learned not only how to grow food but also to care for life, to observe, and to celebrate their small harvests. It is a joy to see how proud they are when they pull out their first carrot or taste a tomato they grew themselves.

2. Kids garden at Senaru Rumahku

Senaru Rumahku is a small learning group in Senaru Village with a similar mission to Tanah Inaq but with a more structured schedule. They meet three times a week for creative activities combining art, handcrafts, and nature based learning.

I helped them create their first vegetable garden early this year. Since August 2025 the children have been growing local vegetables and herbs. They already had a few harvest celebrations and each time I visit I see how the garden becomes more part of their daily routine. They water the plants after class, observe which plants grow faster, and help each other clean up the beds. Watching them learn, argue, laugh, and discover things together makes me proud and hopeful. It feels like planting seeds not only in soil but also in their minds.

3. Kids garden tour at Saifana Organic Farm

At Saifana we also run a special program called the kids garden tour.
During this activity children explore the garden freely. They touch, smell, and taste herbs and vegetables straight from the soil. They collect eggs from the chicken coop, watch the ducks waddle around, and see Trigona bees up close. For many of them it’s the first time they have seen how food grows or how bees make honey.

Through these small experiences they begin to connect the dots between plants, animals, and people. Some of them get curious and ask things like why do plants need worms or do bees also sleep. Those questions might sound simple but they show how naturally kids try to understand the world around them

Reflection

The more I spend time with these young learners the more I see how important it is to let children experience nature early.
They don’t just learn about plants. They learn to care, to wait, to be gentle, and to notice small changes. Those are the same values that build respect for the environment later in life.

As adults we have a big responsibility. We shouldn’t leave them a worse environment than the one we grew up in. They didn’t ask for that. What we can do is pass on knowledge, habits, and care so they grow up understanding how every small action matters.

Teaching kids to plant, to nurture, and to observe nature might look simple but I think it’s one of the most powerful things we can do for the future.
And along the way I also learned something that maybe I’m not just teaching them. I’m growing with them too.

References & Further Reading about the local initiatives involved:

1. Tanah Inaq Foundation – https://tanahinaq.org/get-involved/

2. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanahinaq/

3. Senaru Rumahku – https://kitabisa.com/campaign/helpsenarukids

4. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senaru.rumahku/