An article I wrote in Bali:
Considered by many as the number one tourist destination; Bali in the midst of an ecological crisis. With tourism reaching its highest since the bombings of 2002, environmental terrorism has occurred, and it’s taking no prisoners.
Rubbish clogs the arteries of this beautiful haven and a toxic fume, from the daily ritual of burning of plastic, pollutes the lungs. Its belly is grumbling and its mouth dry as its rice paddies are flattened and its waters drained for hotels. The tourist mob has constricted the heart of this once peaceful soul. Out of ignorance - whilst holes are burning in the pockets of the government - the residents are suffering.
The balance of man and nature is no longer harmonious. Barbaric dogs have become the dictator in this corrupt system that shoots and imprisons rare birds, poisons aquatic life and tortures the land due to misuse. Balinese are unaware of the damage they are causing, but the problem is only heightened by external influence.
Many see Bali as a place of tranquility, offering a spiritual journey for all those that seek it. But in reality, it is a place of consumption, lavish retreats and new-age thinking that is devoid of the traditions of Hindu culture. The tenets are grounded in connection with the Gods, the Earth and the Spirit and for millennia it has been an ideal. But then, in the 20th century, project globalization was initiated.
With it came the ‘green revolution’, which, in the 1973 brought chemicals and crops set to ‘save’ the third world from poverty. What actually happened was a breakdown of norms and a dependency on aid. Chemical companies became tyrants, spreading their seeds and spraying their chemicals which were destructive and expensive. Within a few short years it was too late to reverse the damage caused to the land by foreign strains, polluting pesticides and harmful herbicides.
Intensive farming systems instead of varied extensive farms now predominate in Bali. Land has become essentially unusable in some areas and it is only set to get worse under current conditions. The desire for more imported food, often due to western demands, is also straining this vulnerable system and something needs to happen in order to prevent disaster.
One way to avert this unfolding crisis is to embrace the Supa-farmer project inspired by Steve Cran from Green Warrior Permaculture (GWP). The project reintroduces old style farming with a modern twist as it actively encourages training and exponential growth. Supa-farmers will become role models for other farmers who will acquire the tools (and not in the literal sense) to inspire.
What is a supa-farmer?
Farming is a necessity and a way of life. It is the life blood of all societies but it is under threat from natural disasters, climate change and big business. The Supa-farmers project, trains and empowers all who work on the land, creating unified solutions to degraded farmland and societies. It is being used to instill traditional techniques and innovative technologies for maximum profit and sustainability. Working with nature, rather than against it, crops are changed to suit the land. Farmers are first trained in a System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Low External Input Agriculture (LEISA).
Subac farmers, hard at work.
These farmers undertake a contract with Green Warrior Permaculture for their first harvest, at the same price they received before. They agree to save a minimum of 30% of rice for future planting, as to sustain high yields, and agree to be retrained through regular workshops. These workshops will generate feedback, allowing farmers, volunteers and interns to suggest new techniques and ideas. They will also keep farmers enthused and with the assistance of a Balinese LEISA extension officer, the farmer will agree to train other farmers.
LEISA reduces the need for harmful chemicals and instead encourages the use of beneficial crops suited to the conditions of the land. Local varieties of plants (from open-pollinated organic seed) are encouraged and farmers are given training of how to grow them. Instead of monoculture systems (the planting of a single crop), polycultures will be encouraged to prevent pests and provide a diverse agricultural system. The results will
encourage other farmers to diversify and thus create community involvement.
Organic red rice
SRI is a new way of rice farming replacing hybrid seeds with nutritious, heritage red rice. Rice requires intense amounts of clean water, but climate change and excess water usage from hotels (etc) reduce the amount available. With the cost of farming is increasing the price of harvest has become stagnant. SRI uses organic methods in an ecological setting, incorporating ducks, fish and nitrogen-fixing azolla. Each component works in harmony to enhance nutrients and provide biological pest control. Rice intensification systems can yield twice as much as conventional rice cultivation whilst requiring a tenth of the seed stock and one fifth of the water use.
Ducks doing the hard work.
Permaculture
LEISA and SRI systems fall under the term ‘Permaculture’. It is a way of realigning with nature, by incorporating ecological principles into food production. With animism playing such a strong role in Balinese culture, it pays homage to mother earth by respecting her land, caring for it and reaping its rewards. Starting local (i.e. ones back garden), permaculture radiates out to the farm and community level. In time the forests,
the valleys and the whole country can create an organic system. It is small steps taken to stimulate widespread change and it can be implemented all over the world. Think of where you live. What trees are growing nearby? Can they be used for food? If not, why? People complain about the inability to provide enough food for the planet, but if we utilized available space with an ecologically conscious mind, then great things can
happen.
Organic farming methods and diversification, encouraged by LEISA and SRI, can be used to triple the wages of local farmers, giving them the power to control their land and not succumb to the corporations trying to buy it out. Locally, people can grow their own and supplement their supply with food from the farmer. Thus, once-impoverished communities can become prosperous and empowered, free from the ties of foreign aid. Cooperation and comradory are key but the foundations have been set.
Care for the earth, care for the people, share the surplus is what permaculture teaches. And I, as well as those who came before me, have truly been cared for. I am proud to say I am a Green Warrior! I have been inspired by the potential of permaculture and am excited to watch things unfold. Once skeptical, I am now positive about the future. Projects like this are sprouting up everywhere, even in the UK where I reside, but many are still in their germination stage. If you want to take action, then seek out the change in your own home, community or neighborhood. Dig out that hoe in your garden shed and get digging. Nothing is more rewarding than the fruits of your labour. The seeds have been sewn and I can’t wait to see them flourish.
Wormery/veg Vesuvius, mulch and our tree terrace.
Thank you to Justin Grothe for his contribution and Steve Cran, Beck Sweetman and Lindsay Houska for being my mentors and friends x
