Nandur Ayu : The Queen’s Home Garden

Shinta Yolla, a 64-year-old trans woman originally from Medan, North Sumatra, has called Yogyakarta home for over thirty years. With a gentle pride and a sparkle in her voice, she shares the story of her community—a sisterhood of trans women brought together not only by shared experiences, but also by a shared love of gardening.

Alongside her closest friends, Bunda Rully, Bella, Oneng, Erni, and Lastri, they’ve created more than just green spaces. These women, who work as street performers and social workers, have cultivated life in three thriving gardens across Yogyakarta: one at Yayasan Kebaya in Gowongan, another at WCC in Bantul, and a third, Kebun Seruni, in Sleman.

These gardens are more than patches of soil. They are sources of fresh food, income, and above all, dignity. Selling the produce helps support their daily lives, but perhaps more importantly, the gardens offer a safe space—a place to gather, connect, and grow not just plants, but community and belonging.

Photograph & voice by : Shinta Yolla