"Photo-essay exploring the cultural and environmental aspects of traditional Balinese rice farming, which can serve as a model of sustainable food production. Includes a map, foreword, and author's note." ( )

This book relates the story of rice farming in Bali. For centuries, farming in Bali was done in the same way, with planting, harvesting, and allowing fields to lie fallow. Then modern methods were brought in. Rice production unexpectedly fell. Farmers went back to the old ways. I had a hard time trying to stay with the story in the book. I have some interest in the subject, but not enough for a book of this length. A little of the book:“Kadek strikes harvested stalks against the side of a basket. This knocks off the kernels of rice which are collected in the basket below. The rice kernels will then be tossed in large, round sieves to separate out any small pieces of stalk or other materials. Finally, the rice will be laid in the sun to dry thoroughly, before it is packed into bags.”Children’s comments:No one liked this book. The children said this book had too many words. No one was interested in reading about growing rice. ( )

For thousands of years the people of Bali, an island in Indonesia, grew rice in a traditional, sustainable way. When Indonesian government demanded that they try a different way of farming using genetically engineered rice, the system collapsed. Information on the sustainable practices of Balinese farmers makes an interesting and unusual tie-in for units on environment. The color photographs are beautiful and add to the text. The author's note urges readers to consider where their food comes from and to engage in sustainable practices. ( )