Agnes Winarti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
When earnings are scarce, a small plot of land can become a life-saver for a modest family.
Hamid, an ojek driver for 11 years, for instance, decided to use the vacant land behind his home to cultivate vegetables and help make ends meet.
"Back my hey-day, when private cars and motorcycles were less common than they are now, I used to get at least Rp 30,000 (about US$3.26) a day," Hamid said.
"Now, I can only get Rp 10,000 at the most.
"It is often that I go home empty handed," the 48-year-old Hamid said Friday.
"That is why since 2001 I have used the (family) land for gardening" he said,
In a 3,000 square meter block behind his West Jakarta home, Hamid grows timun suri (apple cucumber), selada (lettuce), spinach, water spinach and cassava.
He harvests timun suri every two months, lettuce every 40 days and swamp cabbage and spinach every 15 - 20 days.
Hamid, father of five and recently a grandfather, said he sold most of his produce, while the remainder was consumed by his family.
"At harvest time we sell our vegetables at four or five kiosks around here," he said, adding that he could earn up to Rp 400,000 - 500,000 from each harvest.
Hamid grows up to 30 timun suri per harvest, which he sells according to size.
"Smaller ones are priced between Rp 2,000 - 3,000, while larger ones are priced between Rp 5,000 - 6,000," he said.
Aside providing their day-to-day meals, Hamid, who only graduated from elementary school, said he hoped to give all his children a better education than his own.
But due to Hamid's uncertain income, his eldest daughter left school at an elementary level, while his two eldest sons left school at junior high. He said he hopes his youngest son, now also at junior high school will stay on. His youngest daughter is still only two years old.
Hamid said that now it was difficult for him to save money for his children's education.
"I used to save Rp 5,000 - 10,000 a day, but now I rarely save anything," he said.
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