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 ![Purwati, a farmer who drives sustainability from upstream, comes from Igirmranak Village, Kejajar District, Wonosobo District.](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdOJOZMSWAB0-PwUsYJehyyXu4UO-Lwe_zLcEp4xpMz1ZBQHioeJFjLyMxoKrmWGTm7RRhb_KWEMduGtH60iQhZ2WjCt0dmSTeYJ1SH0wjxzRtMSNzFi-MKWE27hkjBj9g7dRfI-A?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Nestled on the mountain slopes of Kejajar Subdistrict in Wonosobo District lies the small village of Igirmranak, where a powerful story unfolds—a story of life deeply rooted in harmony with nature. In this village, perseverance, love for the land, and hope grow side by side. Purwati, affectionately known as Bu Pur, a female farmer and member of the village women’s association *(PKK)*, is deeply committed to sustainability.

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From this small village, Bu Pur nurtures a big dream—to sustain the environment all the way from Temanggung and Kendal to Semarang. She does not merely plant; she cultivates a spirit of collaboration through the principles of permaculture.

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Permaculture in Igirmranak is more than just a way of farming. The *lahan bengkok*—common village land, characterized by irregular plots —has now transformed into a vibrant ecosystem where everything supports one another. Within this shared space are rows of vegetable and flower farms, homestays rooted in eco-tourism, a permaculture food stall that serves meals made from local harvests, a post-harvest processing house, a communal sheepfold for Dombos sheep, and a small organic fertilizer facility that repurposes livestock waste.

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Each of these elements is carefully designed to support the others. The livestock produce manure, which is processed into organic fertilizer to nourish the soil. The flowers attract pollinators, boosting crop yields. The food stall and homestays generate income, which is reinvested in sustaining the land. Together, these pieces form an interconnected system, regenerative and self-sustaining. In Igirmranak, sustainability isn’t just a goal; it’s embedded in every element, working together as one thriving ecosystem.

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*"Here, everything is connected—plants, animals, people. Even the food served at village events comes straight from this garden,"* said Bu Pur.

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 ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeIsOia5UsmZQMUOWV0Y5JfG40bzWCVhHe9m-n1g1k5VRmH2eJYV0TLsQ-uLe2xd26-Aw4CL_z0BwdE9_4UJixGLdIQfTlAAyr057-kiTikIqCA7Si8x_eEkHoW2xdhMN5TZ-Lg?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Together with other *PKK* members, Bu Pur plants pyrethrum and peacock flowers to attract pollinators, alongside cultivating vegetables, red beans, taro, carrots, potatoes, and coffee on the fertile mountain soil. All crops are nourished with sheep manure processed into organic fertilizer at the village’s small plant.

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Behind that struggle, Bu Pur's journey has not been an easy one. She recalled the immense challenge of mobilizing *PKK* members to commit to nurturing the land. Only those truly called by the heart have remained steadfast. Many hesitated, and many withdrew out of fear of making mistakes.

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*"In the beginning, we lacked confidence. We were afraid of doing it wrong, afraid of failing,"* Bu Pur recalled.

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Time and energy had to be divided carefully between family, household duties, and the commitment to the garden. Bu Pur also felt a deep calling when she witnessed the decline in young people’s interest in farming.

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*“Nowadays, few young people are interested in farming. If more of them got involved, this land could be even better organized,"* Bu Pur said.

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 ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdPS2sKLDfnrKywac4GOqe_nI_Pax7Sam1ejEmSi82GJscD-wtd0DuDSfT6CB7AGPSTNJ_UBRpinRLOy-qv2oVwlAo_ClXvUYYaSzRQh6NqUDC8-_NDDDxdssQGMSh0XTfNh3zp?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Amid threats of environmental degradation and the disappearance of the farming generation, the determination of the *PKK* women in Igirmranak Village remains a beacon of hope. Permaculture in Igirmranak not only secures food resilience but also protects the water flow at the upstream area of the Bodri Watershed (*DAS Bodri*), which sustains the communities in Temanggung, Kendal, and Semarang. From their farmland, the people of Igirmranak safeguard the lives of others far away, many of whom they may never meet.

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More than 20 villagers—mostly women—derive part of their income from the permaculture food stall. The earnings, though modest, help meet daily needs. For Bu Pur, farming is not just a means of earning a living—it is an act of devotion. In the hands of village women, significant change begins with sincere hearts and small steps that are carefully sustained. 

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*"If we can protect the source here, we can protect the lives of many others. That’s what keeps me going,"* she said.

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The permaculture efforts in Igirmranak Village have grown stronger through collaboration with *Samitra Lingkungan*, a local organization focused on integrated farming and community empowerment. As a member of the *Kolibri Alliance, Samitra Lingkungan* works with women and youth groups using a community-based approach to develop organic agriculture and revive nearly forgotten local food sources. The organization has also initiated a shared learning space on village demonstration plots and facilitated educational programs such as *Sekolah Kampung* (Village School) to instill environmental awareness across generations.

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The synergy between *Samitra Lingkungan* and the villagers has strengthened the existing permaculture system, transforming it into a living ecosystem that is mutually supportive, both economically, socially, and ecologically. This collaboration not only helps protect the upper watershed of the Bodri River but also serves as a model of local resilience, rooted in community participation, traditional knowledge, and a collective spirit of sustainable environmental stewardship. \n 

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 ![Purwati, petani penggerak keberlanjutan dari hulu berasal dari Desa Igirmranak, Kecamatan Kejajar, Kabupaten Wonosobo](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdOJOZMSWAB0-PwUsYJehyyXu4UO-Lwe_zLcEp4xpMz1ZBQHioeJFjLyMxoKrmWGTm7RRhb_KWEMduGtH60iQhZ2WjCt0dmSTeYJ1SH0wjxzRtMSNzFi-MKWE27hkjBj9g7dRfI-A?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Di lereng pegunungan Kecamatan Kejajar, Kabupaten Wonosobo, terdapat sebuah desa kecil bernama Igirmranak. Dari desa ini, mengalir sebuah kisah kuat tentang kehidupan yang berakar dalam harmoni dengan alam. Di Igirmranak, ketekunan, cinta terhadap tanah, dan harapan tumbuh berdampingan.

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Salah satu penggeraknya adalah Purwati, yang akrab disapa Bu Pur. Ia seorang petani perempuan sekaligus anggota Pemberdayaan dan Kesejahteraan Keluarga (PKK) desa. Bu Pur memegang teguh komitmennya terhadap keberlanjutan.

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Dari desa yang sederhana ini, Bu Pur menanam mimpi besar—menjaga lingkungan hingga ke Temanggung, Kendal, dan Semarang. Ia tidak sekadar menanam, tetapi juga membangun semangat kolaborasi melalui prinsip-prinsip permakultur.

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Permakultur di Igirmranak bukan sekadar cara bertani. Lahan bengkok—lahan milik desa yang umumnya tidak beraturan—bertransformasi menjadi ekosistem hidup yang saling menguatkan. Di atas lahan ini, tumbuh kebun sayur dan bunga, homestay berbasis ekowisata, warung permakultur yang menyajikan makanan dari hasil panen lokal, rumah pengolahan pascapanen, kandang komunal untuk domba Dombos, hingga fasilitas kecil pengolahan pupuk organik dari limbah ternak.

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Setiap elemen dirancang untuk saling menopang. Kotoran ternak diolah menjadi pupuk organik untuk menyuburkan tanah. Bunga-bunga menarik hewan penyerbuk alami yang membantu produktivitas tanaman. Warung dan homestay menghasilkan pendapatan yang kemudian digunakan kembali untuk menjaga kelestarian lahan. Seluruhnya membentuk satu sistem yang saling terhubung, regeneratif, dan berkelanjutan. Di Igirmranak, keberlanjutan bukan sekadar tujuan—tetapi melekat dalam setiap elemen yang hidup berdampingan dalam satu ekosistem yang utuh.

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"Di sini, semua saling berhubungan. Tanaman, hewan, manusia. Bahkan makanan di warung saat acara desa berasal dari hasil kebun ini," kata Bu Pur.

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 ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd2BbIERUkHGRwy0uirkwzgotw2qngxW08L18xKhuKWC-yGYPjUq31pM369YwCAdY3tJFLnrDtudqakEhBArEDyabSY5dA-xvyTxl6KsKN7PdxWNaYbodSOuZ8UQO48mFGV-Lt9?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Bersama anggota PKK lainnya, Bu Pur menanam bunga piretrum dan bunga merak untuk menarik hewan penyerbuk, serta membudidayakan sayuran, kacang merah, talas, wortel, kentang, dan kopi di tanah subur pegunungan. Seluruh tanaman dipupuk dengan kotoran domba yang telah diproses di fasilitas kecil desa.

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Namun, perjalanan Bu Pur tidaklah mudah. Ia mengenang betapa sulitnya menggerakkan anggota PKK untuk berkomitmen merawat lahan. Hanya mereka yang benar-benar terpanggil dari hati yang mampu bertahan. Banyak yang ragu, dan tidak sedikit yang mundur karena takut melakukan kesalahan.

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"Awalnya kami kurang percaya diri. Takut salah, takut gagal," ujar Bu Pur.

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Waktu dan tenaga pun harus dibagi secara cermat antara keluarga, urusan rumah tangga, dan komitmen terhadap kebun. Kegelisahan Bu Pur semakin dalam saat melihat semakin sedikitnya anak muda yang tertarik bertani.

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"Anak muda sekarang jarang yang tertarik bertani. Padahal kalau ada yang ikut terlibat, lahan ini bisa lebih tertata rapi," kata Bu Pur.

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 ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf520lQhwL42IMJKXElgiFNmVjpHm-xKu22iQzJ3mKz_Syncnf0QCBfWMS3hyjX9qc5AOLFkZgR4M39d7QY8heZW-86OGDT9nmkz4MwNYMSaDKszCuiPMlA7gnXKMOBU8dpWXBQ?key=A6eq7ylH3NOCjbjW7ZkGpzfi)

Di tengah ancaman kerusakan lingkungan dan makin hilangnya generasi petani, tekad para perempuan PKK di Desa Igirmranak menjadi cahaya harapan. Permakultur di Igirmranak tidak hanya menjaga ketahanan pangan, tetapi juga melindungi aliran air di hulu Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) Bodri yang menghidupi masyarakat Temanggung, Kendal, dan Semarang. Dari ladang mereka, warga Igirmranak menjaga kehidupan orang-orang yang bahkan mungkin tak pernah mereka temui.

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Lebih dari 20 warga desa—kebanyakan perempuan—mendapat sebagian penghasilan dari warung permakultur. Meski penghasilannya tidak besar, cukup untuk membantu memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-hari. Bagi Bu Pur, bertani bukan sekadar mencari nafkah. Ia melakukannya dengan penuh pengabdian. Di tangan para perempuan desa, perubahan besar dimulai dari hati yang tulus dan langkah-langkah kecil yang terus dirawat.

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"Kalau kita bisa jaga hulu ini, berarti kita bisa jaga kehidupan banyak orang. Itu yang membuat saya semangat," tuturnya.

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Upaya permakultur di Desa Igirmranak semakin kuat berkat kolaborasi dengan Samitra Lingkungan, sebuah organisasi lokal yang fokus pada pertanian terpadu dan pemberdayaan komunitas. Sebagai anggota Aliansi Kolibri, Samitra Lingkungan mendampingi kelompok perempuan dan pemuda desa melalui pendekatan berbasis komunitas dalam mengembangkan pertanian organik dan memulihkan pangan lokal yang nyaris punah. Lembaga ini juga menginisiasi ruang belajar bersama di demplot milik desa dan memfasilitasi program edukasi seperti Sekolah Kampung untuk menanamkan kesadaran lingkungan lintas generasi.

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Sinergi antara Samitra Lingkungan dan warga desa Igirmranak memperkuat sistem permakultur yang telah dibangun, menjadikannya sebagai ekosistem hidup yang saling menopang—dari aspek ekonomi, sosial, hingga ekologis. Kolaborasi ini bukan hanya menjaga hulu DAS Bodri, tetapi juga menjadi model ketahanan lokal yang lahir dari keterlibatan warga, pengetahuan tradisional, dan semangat kolektif untuk merawat alam secara berkelanjutan. \n 

Keberlanjutan dari Hulu: Permakultur di Desa Igirmranak