Cling back to Nature 

By Ivan Handoyo

In the past, while living in the capital city, I felt that the rapid development of materialism seemed to demand that I always have status. There is a great desire to change lifestyles, get out of the urban system and a world shrouded in materialism. Instead, I wanted to experience the simplicity of living in a rural environment close to nature and channeling my love for plants. I believe being in a community that synergizes with our thoughts and understanding of life can make life calmer and more comfortable.

I believe being in a community that synergizes with our thoughts and understanding of life can make life calmer and more comfortable.

Finally this wish was fulfilled when my family and I moved to Ubud, Bali. Previously in Jakarta my love for plants was limited to caring for ornamental plants, now this hobby can be explored more. Currently, I am exploring about bonsai techniques, kusamono. Unlike bonsai, this technique teaches us to create a new ecosystem for wild plants. Not many people know about this even though the kusamono technique actually has its own artistic value which gives me a zen effect.

What I love most about this new hobby is not what the results will be like, but the process. When my family and I created a new ritual, we camped in the forest and then “hunted” into the forest looking for plants to bring home. Usually I check with the application to find out the type, then take the appropriate portion that you want to take and create at home. Then when I get home, then I will arrange and care for it in the garden. This process is meditative for me. Especially when I was close to big trees in the forest and got to know various plant species that I had never found. In the forest the interbreeding process was extraordinary. One plant with other plants can unite and grow new types which are classified as rare. One of the hybrid plants found is the orchid flower with a very unique shape and color.

During my search for wild plants, I also learned a lot about moss. It is a plant that is everywhere, but we often ignore it. When in fact moss is a sign of a source of life. It lives in a humid place which means it is close to water. So that when we find moss we can find water. As for the parent plant, moss can be very useful for stimulating the roots of the parent plant and storing water reserves. If investigated further, several types of moss can be consumed by humans. For example, seaweed is included in the moss category.

Going to the forest is also a Japanese custom to calm down from the hustle and bustle of the city. Called forest bath , this habit is believed to be a therapy to prevent various physical and mental illnesses. I also try to present this habit. Apart from the ritual of going to the forest, I also want to present a forest atmosphere in the yard of my house with the plants that are brought home. Presenting plants in the house is like creating a universe on a micro scale. They are actually a reminder for us to always take care of the environment. If we forget, we can lose things that are very valuable on earth.

Presenting plants in the house is like creating a universe on a micro scale. They are actually a reminder for us to always take care of the environment.

I am quite happy with the growing trend in the capital city. Even though there may be some people who just get carried away by trends, but in my opinion, when we come into contact with nature, we will experience a process of evolution of consciousness. Either a little or a lot, there will be a change in mindset that forms awareness of the environment while in the process of farming. Because every time we come into contact with nature, we are actually in a relationship with it.

Either a little or a lot, there will be a change in mindset that forms awareness of the environment while in the process of farming. Because, every time we come into contact with nature we are actually forming an attachment with it.

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