Depok-After its inauguration to coincide with its 17th anniversary on May 19, 2025, the Herbal Garden of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) Vocational Education Program has now reached its first harvest. On August 1, 2025, several plants, including cucumbers, chilies, spinach, kale, and others, were successfully harvested and used directly by the UI Vocational Education Program academic community.
This Herbal Garden is a concrete manifestation of UI Vocational commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically point 2, Zero Hunger, and point 15, Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems. This initiative also strengthens UI Vocational contribution to the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, specifically in indicators of medium-term conservation and sustainability of local resources, including aspects of food sustainability.
(Photo: Academics harvesting at the UI Vocational Herbal Garden)
Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, expressed his appreciation for the academic community’s enthusiasm in maintaining and utilizing the garden. “This first harvest is proof that sustainability can start with small, consistent steps. We hope this Herbal Garden will not only be a source of medicinal and food plants, but also a space for education and cross-disciplinary collaboration,” said Padang.
The first harvest was used to provide healthy food for the UI Vocational academic community. Reina Restianti Amin, S.Ars., a member of the UI Vocational educational staff, participated in the harvest and utilized some of the produce. “It’s so great to be able to directly experience the results of our collectively managed garden. This isn’t just about the harvest, but also about togetherness and awareness of the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle,” Reina said.
(Photo: A number of academics are taking advantage of the harvest from the UI Vocational Herbal Garden)
By achieving this harvest period, the UI Vocational Herbal Garden not only functions as a green space, but also as part of the campus’s transformation efforts towards sustainability that have a real impact on all elements of the campus and the surrounding community.
