The riverbank has its own clock. The Yogyakarta calendar gives us two long seasons — wet and dry — and the kebun answers each in its own language.
Wet season (Nov–Mar)
The river runs full. Beds drain fast. Leafy greens and herbs do best.
- Kangkung — fast-growing, tolerates sogginess.
- Bayam — every two weeks for steady harvests.
- Daun bawang — multiply from base; basically free.
Dry season (Apr–Oct)
Mornings stay cool, afternoons get hot. Roots and fruiting plants take their turn.
- Tomato — the dry breeze keeps fungus at bay.
- Cabai — pots near the pendopo for kitchen use.
- Singkong — long-haul; plant once, harvest in months.
Three rules we follow
- 1Plant what the kampung kitchens actually use. It always finds a home.
- 2Mulch generously. The riverbank is generous with weeds.
- 3Rotate beds. Same crop, same spot, two seasons in a row, and the soil stops smiling at you.