Permaculture in Lombok: Sustainable Farming at Mawun Valley

Permaculture isn't just a farming technique — it's a design philosophy for living sustainably with the land. At Mawun Valley Farm, we've spent years implementing these principles in a tropical Indonesian context, learning what works and sharing that knowledge with visitors.

This guide explains what permaculture means to us and how you can experience (and learn) sustainable practices during your stay.

What is Permaculture?

The Basics

Permaculture (permanent + agriculture/culture) is a design system for creating sustainable human settlements. It was developed in Australia in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, drawing on indigenous wisdom and ecological science.

Core ethics:

1. Earth Care: Work with natural systems, not against them
2. People Care: Meet human needs sustainably
3. Fair Share: Limit consumption, distribute surplus

Key principle: Observe and interact with nature before acting. Work with patterns, not against them.

Why Permaculture in Lombok?

Tropical environments like Lombok present both opportunities and challenges:

Advantages:

• Year-round growing season
• Abundant sunshine
• Diverse crop possibilities
• Traditional knowledge base

Challenges:

• Intense monsoon rains (erosion)
• Dry season water scarcity
• Heat stress on some plants
• Pest pressure in warm climate

Permaculture helps us maximize the advantages while designing solutions for the challenges.

Permaculture at Mawun Valley Farm

Our Food Forest

The heart of our permaculture system is a developing food forest — a multi-layered planting that mimics natural forest ecosystems.

Canopy layer (tall trees):

• Cashew trees (nuts and fruit)
• Coconut palms (fruit, oil, building material)
• Jackfruit (fruit, timber)

Sub-canopy layer (smaller trees):

• Papaya (fruit, leaves)
• Banana (fruit, leaves for wrapping, stem fiber)
• Citrus (limes, oranges)

Shrub layer:

• Cassava (root vegetable)
• Pigeon pea (nitrogen fixing, food)
• Moringa (highly nutritious leaves)

Herbaceous layer:

• Vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, greens)
• Herbs (basil, lemongrass, turmeric)
• Ground covers

Root layer:

• Sweet potato
• Ginger and galangal
• Taro

Vine layer:

• Passion fruit
• Beans and other climbing vegetables
• Grapevines (read about our grapevine project)

This diversity creates multiple yields from the same space — food, medicine, animal feed, building materials, and ecosystem services.

Composting Systems

Nothing at the farm goes to waste. Our composting infrastructure turns "waste" into valuable soil amendment.

Hot composting:

• Kitchen scraps + carbon materials
• Turns quickly in tropical heat (4-8 weeks)
• Produces nutrient-rich finished compost

Vermicomposting:

• Worm bins process food scraps
• Produces worm castings (excellent fertilizer)
• Worm tea for liquid feeding

Keyhole compost gardens:

• Guests helped build these (read Ava's account)
• Central compost basket feeds surrounding plants
• African design perfect for tropical dry zones

Animal integration:

• Goats produce manure (composted before use)
• Chickens turn compost while foraging
• Complete nutrient cycling

Water Management

Water is precious in South Lombok's dry season. We've implemented multiple strategies:

Rainwater harvesting:

• Roof collection into tanks
• Storage for dry season use
• Reduces well water dependence

Swales and berms:

• Contour earthworks slow water runoff
• Water infiltrates rather than eroding
• Recharges groundwater

Olla irrigation:

• Ancient technology using buried clay pots
• Slow, efficient water release to roots
• Reduces water use by up to 70%
• Mentioned in Ava's diary

Mulching:

• Thick organic mulch on all beds
• Reduces evaporation dramatically
• Suppresses weeds, feeds soil life

Animal Integration

Our animals aren't just residents — they're working members of the farm ecosystem.

Goats (Coconut, Spinach, Kangkung, and friends):

• Clear unwanted vegetation
• Produce manure for composting
• Provide milk (occasionally)
• Offer endless entertainment for guests

Chickens:

• Pest control (insects, snails)
• Turn compost and mulch
• Produce eggs for Noni's kitchen
• Fertilize as they range

Cats:

• Rodent control
• Keep the farm pest-free naturally

Each animal provides multiple functions — classic permaculture thinking.

Permaculture Principles We Practice

1. Observe and Interact

Before planting anything, we watched:

• Where water flows and pools
• Where sun hits at different times
• Where wind comes from
• What grows naturally

This observation informed all subsequent design.

2. Catch and Store Energy

Energy comes in many forms:

• Sunlight: Maximized through plant placement
• Water: Captured and stored for dry season
• Nutrients: Composted and recycled
• Human energy: Efficient design reduces unnecessary labor

3. Obtain a Yield

Philosophy is nice, but farms must produce:

• Food for our café and guests
• Income through experiences and products
• Knowledge shared with visitors
• Beauty and inspiration

4. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback

We continuously adjust based on results:

• What thrives? Plant more.
• What struggles? Observe why, adapt.
• What do guests love? Expand those experiences.

5. Use and Value Renewable Resources

We prioritize:

• Solar energy (natural and potential PV)
• Rain water over pumped groundwater
• Organic matter over synthetic inputs
• Local materials over imported

6. Produce No Waste

Everything cycles:

• Food scraps → compost → soil → food
• Animal manure → compost → gardens
• Prunings → mulch or animal feed
• Graywater → garden irrigation (future plan)

7. Design from Patterns to Details

We designed the big picture first:

• Water flow patterns
• Sun/shade patterns
• Access and movement patterns
• Then filled in specific plants and features

8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate

Elements work together:

• Chickens under fruit trees (pest control + fertilizer + shade)
• Nitrogen-fixing plants near heavy feeders
• Compost near kitchen (convenience = use)

9. Use Small and Slow Solutions

We avoid:

• Massive machines that compact soil
• Quick fixes that create new problems
• Scale that exceeds our capacity to manage

10. Use and Value Diversity

Our diversity includes:

• Multiple crop species (resilience)
• Multiple varieties of key crops
• Wild areas alongside cultivated
• Different approaches to same problems

11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal

Edges are productive zones:

• Forest/clearing edge has most diversity
• Water/land edge (if we had a pond)
• Cultivated/wild edges harbor beneficial insects

12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change

Change is constant:

• Climate patterns shifting
• New guests bring new ideas
• Market conditions evolve
• We adapt, experiment, evolve

Experience Permaculture During Your Stay

Farm Tours

Walk through the property with us:

• See systems in action
• Ask questions
• Understand the "why" behind choices
• Take ideas home for your own space

Hands-On Activities

Get involved:

• Build a compost pile
• Plant seedlings
• Feed animals
• Harvest vegetables for Noni's

Cooking Classes

Connect food to source:

• Harvest ingredients from the garden
• Learn about ingredient origins
• Cook with seasonal, local produce
• Understand farm-to-table literally

Extended Stays

Our Belong program offers deeper engagement:

• Work alongside our farmer Tony
• Contribute to ongoing projects
• Learn systems over time
• Leave with real skills

What Visitors Say

"I thought permaculture was just fancy composting. Seeing it as an integrated system was eye-opening." — Guest from Germany

"The keyhole garden I helped build made me want to try one at home." — Guest from Australia (Read Ava's diary)

"Finally understanding why things are placed where they are changed how I see all farms." — Guest from Japan

Taking Permaculture Home

Start Small

Don't try to redesign everything at once:

• One compost bin
• One rain barrel
• One food-producing plant
• Observe what works, expand slowly

Observe First

Spend a full year observing your space before major changes:

• Where does water go?
• Where's the sun at different seasons?
• What already grows well?
• What are your actual patterns of use?

Learn Continuously

Resources we recommend:

• Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison
• Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway
• Local permaculture courses in your area
• YouTube channels (Geoff Lawton, etc.)

Connect with Community

Find local permaculture groups:

• Shared knowledge and experience
• Plant swaps and seed sharing
• Moral support for experiments
• Inspiration from others' successes

The Bigger Picture

Permaculture at Mawun Valley Farm is about more than growing vegetables. It's about:

Regeneration: Improving land rather than depleting it

Resilience: Systems that withstand disruption

Connection: Linking food, ecology, and community

Education: Sharing what we learn with visitors

Hope: Demonstrating that sustainable living is possible and enjoyable

When you stay with us, you experience these principles in action. And hopefully, you take some inspiration home.

Visit and Learn

Come see permaculture in a tropical context. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, there's something to discover.

Message Us on WhatsApp to plan your visit.

Related: Experience Program | Belong Program | Farm Life & Culture | Ava's Diary: Growing Together