subaks

The traditional water distribution and agricultural expressions of Balinese rice farmers is my favorite example of articulture. Back in my greenmuseum•org days, I attended a talk as part of the Long Now SALT lecture series. The presentation blew me away with its modeled analysis of how this complex rice farming (and so much more) system functioned. It also gave me an introduction to how Balinese culture made the engineering and policy all work together, managing conflict and equity, and ensuring effective practices and wisdom were spread from generation to generation. These were grand, island-scale agricultural earthworks with art and ceremony and beauty woven into every step of a joyous, colorful, nourishing process…