| dc.description.abstract | Permaculture, as an alternative and sustainable approach to conventional farming, has been an
emerging field of study, primarily focusing on challenges faced and strategies applied during the
initiation phase of permaculture enterprises. This research seeks to bridge a critical gap in the
existing literature by exploring the factors that shape the strategies employed by long-term
successful permaculture practitioners in southern Australia. Through an explorative case study,
this research, while partly affirming prevailing literature on permaculture practitioners' challenges,
strategies, and the factors that mold these strategies, uncovers unique revelations that shed new
light on permaculture practices.
The study uncovers the paramount importance of individual-level factors, notably motivation,
intricately intertwined with practitioners’ personal values, diverse knowledge, creativity, and
adaptability and success perception, while also highlighting the substantial influence of sociallevel factors, such as shared values, communal interests, and the presence of a supportive
community that facilitates their journey. It has become evident that, while posing varied
challenges, institutional level factors showed less relevant for the strategic decision-making of the
permaculture practitioners.
While focused on the context of southern-Australia, this research has created important insights
into the potential of permaculture practitioners, by analyzing examples of long-term success. The
research also provides a stepping-stone into the relatively underexplored domain of long-term
success in permaculture enterprises, offering promising prospects for future research. Further
investigations may extend our understanding and contribute to the advancement of sustainable
transformations within the agricultural sector. | |
