Permaculture as an alternative way of living: the example of Bumi Langit in Indonesia

Modern agriculture systems in Indonesia have created adverse impacts both socially and ecologically and require a fundamental shift. In this research paper, I introduced an alternative of small-scale and local agricultural practice in Indonesia, namely permaculture. Although permaculture departed from a landscape design, it has been developing as a philosophical way of living which further implies a cultural and lifestyle transformation. Looking at a permaculture project located in Yogyakarta, this study has shown that permaculture which intersects with spiritual beliefs can contribute to the transformation through the implementation of three fundamental ethics of permaculture. The way in which permaculture incorporates values of care; centred around the environment, the community and equality, are ethics which support an alternative lifestyle that could generate an alternative agricultural system and furthermore a sustainable lifestyle.