The Famous Rice Terraces

During the time I was married, my husband's family owned a large vegetable farm in New Jersey, and I've continued to be interested in farming. The periodic eruption of the 6 volcanoes on Bali, have (while of course causing disruption and devastation) given rise to extremely fertile soils that enable Balinese farmers to harvest up to three crops a year. Because much of the terrain is steep, the Balinese have derived a system of terraces that utilize the land to its maximum efficiency and provide inspiration for photographers and artists.

Water is taken to the highest point, and from there, uses gravity to flow throug the sawah, or paddy fields. Farmers keep the fine-textured soil (which would otherwise drain the water quite quickly into the subsoil) impermeable by their continual plouging. Plows I saw were drawn by water buffalo.

It is typical of Bali that everything "important" is done as a community and as a sacred rite. Water is worshipped and honored, and all irrigation water is shared. All farmers belong to a subak or irrigation society that unites them. The head of each subak makes sure that member farmers maintain the system.

The Balinese have incorporated "new" into old very creatively. The upper water source outlet on the rice paddy at right, is covered with a coca-cola canopy.

All planting is done by hand. We watched the three workers at left plant the entire terrace area pictured in about 20 minutes. It reminded me of the speed with which we used to hand-pick strawberries on the family farm.

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