COCONUT : PART 2

The true leaf of coconut tree is a band-shape.

It's established on the first year after germinated.

Transplanting into the ground should be done before the first leaf is set up.

Too late on transplanting makes the little tree will grow so slowly and the first fruit will set lately too.

In Indonesia, coconut trees are grown from the beach area with the sandy soil up to medium land with the altitude about 600 meters from the sea level.
On these areas, coconut tree can grow well and so productive.

Above 600 meters from sea level, coconut tree will grow so poor.
The flower cluster, even the fruit will never set it up.

Coconut tree can grow well both on the dry and humid soil.
On the dry soil, the leaves look thicker, narrower, and a little bit paler.
Coconut also can grow well on bare land.
Here, we can find a lot coconut trees that grow by their self without fertilizer, watering,... that real no handling, just harvesting.

On the modern coconut plantation, the coconut trees is grown on the space 7 meters in row and also 7 meters between the rows.
It means there are about 200 plants each hectare.
But on the folk plantation, the space is usually narrower.
Traditional farmers are usually practicing multiple cropping on their farm land.

Look the leaves...
So green and so simple.
In Java, we call the old leaves (both of green and brownish-green) as 'blarak',
And the young yellow leaves are called 'janur'.

We can use the leaves for so many purposes.
The old dry leaves with the brown color on it are usually used as fire stove on the villages.
The green leaves are usually used as shading on the traditional nursery.
Sometimes it's used as traditional roof on the hut or barn.
And we can also plaited leaves that used as traditional bag, especially to bring the chickens, geese or ducks in to he traditional market.

Janur is almost used on so many traditional ceremonies in our country, especially on Javanese tradition.
Janur always decorate on every party, every ceremony.
So many creations using janur are so easy to be found here.
Janur  symblolize the happiness, and also prosperity.
Look the 'janur' that decorated the horse cart, just a very simple creation.

Every one  that host a ceremony such us wedding ceremony usually install 'penjor' in front of their house or on the road side near their house as a sign of the party location.
Penjor is a bamboo stem intact curvilinear shape, that wrapped by decorated janur on so many size and decorative shapes,
You can see a part of the penjor, on the picture above.
It's called globular shape.
And you can see the other penjor on the picture below, there are four penjor behind the dancers, but sorry it's too small!

Look the dancers... they are using unusual costum!

Yes, they are using overcoat that made from janur, their crown, necklace, bracelet and other accecoris are made from janur.

That's so interesting. 

And... we also use janur to make 'Ketupat'.
Ketupat is a special dish that always presented in every Ied Mubarak.
Ketupat is made from rice that inserted into the rhombus shape wrapping.
The wrapping is made from plaited janur.
Ketupat is usually cooked on the boiling water for about 4 -8 hours, to get the solid and chewy texture.
Next, we will talk about the other part of coconut tree.
I hope you all enjoy this series.
Thank you for following.