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POTENTIAL OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES:A POSSIBILITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?75The Sundanese of JavaThe Sundanese are the second most populous ethnicgroup in Indonesia, with a population of some 31million living mostly in West Java, Banten and Jakartaand to the west of Central Java. They occupy fertileterrain and have their own language and culture.Although they are predominantly Muslim, traditionalbeliefs related to farming and rice cultivation areintact. These include the worship of Nyai PohaciSanghyang Asri, which is like the mother goddess ofgrains. Sundanese culture is less rigid about socialnorms when compared to Javanese culture, and there isa greater focus on more equal rights between men andwomen. Traces of animistic and Hindu-Buddhisticbeliefs can still be found in the culture.Rice is the staple food. Without it, people feel theyhave not eaten at all. It is accompanied by vegetablesand shrimp or chili paste. Vegetables are consideredmedicine, and a means to health and beauty. Chili is atasty addition to whet the appetite and add strength.Sour or salted fish are commonly eaten.There are three groups of vegetables. The first groupincludes those cultivated mainly for commercialpurposes, such as spinach, cucumber, bean, andmorning glory. The second is self-growing vegetablesaround living areas, like eggplants as a hedge. The thirdgroup is wild and forest-growing vegetables, likejombloh genjer. There is a saying: as long as there isnature, no one needs to starve to death.In the past, the consumption of these three vegetablegroups was probably about even. Today there is lessconsumption of the third group in particular, and lessalso of the second group. This is the result of lifestylechanges and industrialization. Forest vegetables arecheap, but many young people do not know where orhow to collect them.Sundanese people have long been known as “freshvegetable eaters”. They believe that fresh vegetablesmake people live longer, and maintain their youth.Sundanese women are said to be the most beautiful inIndonesia.Eating fresh vegetables, or lalap, saves time, cost, andhas great health benefits. All species of vegetables,plants and even trees can be eaten raw. Five parts maybe eaten; young leaves, flowers, young fruits or youngpods, fruits and seeds, and shoots or undergroundheads. Different parts have different qualities andhealth effects. For example, young leaves are believedto nourish beauty and to make people look younger.Flowers are appropriate for older people and those ofweak condition. For example, honey is made frommany flowers. We can say that lalap is a meaningfulpart of Sundanese life; it cannot be separated from thephilosophy of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Lalap isalso called warung hidup or “living grocery” or “livingdrug store”. Almost every Sundanese household growsfresh vegetables in their resident quarters. Sambal danlalap (chili paste with vegetables) is a typicalSundanese food. There are many kinds of chili pastes,including shrimp chili paste, oncom chili paste, kemirichili paste, etc.Scientific name /No.Family name (Local name)1 Pluchea indica (L.) Less. Asteraceae(Beluntas)2 Phaseolus vulgaris L. Leguminoceae(Buncis)3 Paedaria foetida L. Rubiaceae(Daun kentut)4 Limnocharis flava (L.) BuchButomaceae (Genjer)5 Zingiber officinale Rosc.Zingiberaceae (Jahe)Eating methodThe young leaves can be eaten fresh orsteamed. They can be used for makingurap (a salad of mixed vegetables withcoconut).Young pods can be eaten fresh; old podsshould be boiled or steamed. It can also beadded to sour soup (sayur asam).Young leaves can be eaten fresh, boiled orsteamed. It can also be added to clearsoup (sayur bening) or just stirredtogether with a little oil.Young leaves, young stems and flowerscan be boiled or steamed. It can be also beused in pecel or gado-gado.Young head can be sliced and eaten fresh.Health benefitIt helps to reduce body odor and badmouth. Promotes digestion in children.Relieves cough and menstrual pain.It helps to promote urination. It relievesdiabetes and edema.It helps to relieve stomachache andreduces wind in the stomach, especially inwomen after childbirth. Help to reduceheat in the body.It helps to improve appetite.It helps to relieve flatulence, improveappetite and promote digestion.The Work of the 2010/2011 API Fellows