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Editorial and documentary visual stories from Jambi, Indonesia.

Growing Up Between Rice Fields and Industry | Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako, Muaro Jambi

MUARO JAMBI, INDONESIA
At Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Muaro Jambi, local residents teach children to stay connected with farming traditions and the natural environment amid growing industrial development.
Children walking through rice fields during outdoor learning activities at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, Jambi Indonesia
Children walk through the rice fields of Tebat Patah Village during outdoor learning activities organized by Lubuk Pusako Nature School Community.

In Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, Jambi Province, children walk along narrow dirt paths leading to rice fields instead of classrooms. Carrying curiosity in their hands and mud on their feet, they learn directly from the environment surrounding them. For the children of Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako, nature is not just a backdrop — it is part of the learning process itself.

The community-based school was initiated by Ajas and several young people in 2022 through Komunitas Lubuk Pusako, a space focused on environmental and cultural learning. In the middle of rice fields, wetlands, and village life, children are introduced to farming traditions through simple but meaningful experiences.

Ajas teaching children about nature and farming traditions at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, Jambi Indonesia
Ajas introduces children to the surrounding landscape as part of environmental learning activities in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi.

By touching soil, sowing seeds, and listening to stories from local farmers, children slowly begin to understand where food comes from and how closely human life is tied to the land.

Children learning about soil and planting during outdoor environmental education activities in Muaro Jambi, Jambi Indonesia
Children touch the soil while learning about the early stages of planting and the relationship between land and food.
Rural landscape and rice fields in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, alongside growing industrial development in Jambi Indonesia
A bicycle stands near the fields of Tebat Patah Village, where traditional rural landscapes continue to exist alongside growing industrial development..

Rural Education and Environmental Learning in Muaro Jambi

But the landscape around Tebat Patah is slowly changing. Not far from the fields where children learn to plant rice, industrial areas continue to grow. Smoke rising in the distance stands in contrast to the green farmland that has long shaped the lives of local communities.

Rice seeds prepared for planting during environmental learning activities at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Muaro Jambi
Rice seeds are prepared before being spread onto the planting medium during the learning session.
Children participating in nature-based learning activities in rural Muaro Jambi, Jambi Indonesia
Outdoor education activities at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako surrounded by rice fields in Muaro Jambi
Children gathering near rice fields during outdoor learning at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Muaro Jambi, Indonesia
Children gather near the rice fields as outdoor learning activities continue in Tebat Patah Village.

Amid this transformation, Ajas and the villagers have become both pioneers and protectors. Through small collective efforts, they try to ensure that the next generation does not grow up disconnected from nature. For them, teaching children about farming is not only about agriculture, but also about memory, identity, and belonging.

Preserving Farming Traditions for the Next Generation

Industrial smoke rising behind agricultural land in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, Jambi Indonesia
Industrial smoke rises behind the agricultural landscape of Tebat Patah Village, where traditional farming and industrial development now exist side by side.

In a rapidly industrializing environment, Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako becomes more than just an outdoor classroom. It is a way of preserving local knowledge and keeping alive a relationship between children and the land beneath their feet — before that connection slowly disappears.

This photo essay documents environmental learning, rural life, and farming traditions at Sekolah Alam Lubuk Pusako in Tebat Patah Village, Muaro Jambi, Jambi Province, Indonesia.

The Remaining Movements