Sibang, encompassing the villages of Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede in Bali, is experiencing a tense transition as new commercial developments emerge in a region long celebrated for its quiet jungle landscape and traditional farming practices, according to travel reports detailing the area’s current conditions.
The Roots of Sibang’s Quiet Reputation
For decades, Sibang remained largely overlooked by mainstream tourism. Local accounts attribute this sustained isolation to a long-standing village curse involving an angry giant who warned that ants would swallow the area, causing early residents to flee and allowing the dense jungle to reclaim the land.
That relative obscurity shifted in 2008 when Canadian John Hardy opened Green School Bali. The campus introduced an eco-focused curriculum for approximately 500 local and international students ranging from kindergarten to year 12, drawing new families to the area.
Did You Know? Green School Bali operates a bamboo campus that serves about 500 students from kindergarten through year 12, putting the previously overlooked twin villages of Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede on the international map when it opened in 2008.
Development Pressures Threaten Local Landscapes
While the immediate area surrounding the school features modest infrastructure—including local homes, sleepy cafes, a sustainability concept store called Muka, and the year-old villa stay Mahajiva—new commercial projects are beginning to materialize. Construction has commenced on a padel court opposite the school, featuring plans for an air-conditioned co-working space, a gym, a lap pool, and a bar.
Residents, both local and foreign, have expressed concern that the new sports and leisure facility could accelerate over-development. Community members worry the village risks following the trajectory of overcrowded tourist hubs like Ubud and Canggu, where rice paddies have been replaced by boutique villas, roads have slowed to traffic jams, and local land prices have surged out of reach.
Sustainable Initiatives Anchor the Region
Amid these changes, specific educational and agricultural projects continue to promote alternative models. Kul Kul Farm, founded by Orin Hardy and Maria Farrugia, operates as a permaculture center, bamboo-building school, and guest accommodation. Each April, the farm runs a 10-day bamboo construction course utilizing fast-growing, carbon-sequestering materials, while supplying produce to its on-site restaurant, Taani.
Similarly, Astungkara Way functions as a regenerative rice-farming collective located twenty minutes away. Manager Oka Dewanti notes that the surrounding paddies reflect the agricultural character of Ubud and Canggu thirty years ago. The collective hosts hands-on farming education focused on natural methods—such as deploying ducks instead of pesticides and compost instead of chemicals—while honoring the centuries-old Subak cooperative irrigation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Green School Bali and where is it located?
Green School Bali is an eco-focused educational institution with a bamboo campus offering kindergarten through year 12 instruction to about 500 local and international students. It is located in Sibang, which encompasses the villages of Sibang Kaja and Sibang Gede.
What sustainable projects operate in Sibang?
Projects include Kul Kul Farm, a permaculture center and bamboo-building school founded by Orin Hardy and Maria Farrugia, and Astungkara Way, a regenerative rice-farming collective managed by Oka Dewanti that emphasizes traditional practices like the Subak irrigation network.
What new developments are concerning residents?
Locals and foreign residents have expressed concern over a newly broken-ground padel court development opposite Green School, which is slated to include a bar, a gym, a lap pool, and an air-conditioned co-working space.
How do you think rural communities can best balance modern commercial development with the preservation of traditional farming and local ecosystems?