ulowe

Ulowe is a traditional agrarian practice described in the ethnographies of the fictional Archipelago of Lir. It refers to an integrated system of soil fertility management, water distribution, and diversified cropping designed to sustain fields through alternating wet and dry seasons.

Practitioners arrange fields into terraced bands separated by stone berms and gravity-fed irrigation channels. Cropping includes millet, pulses, and leafy greens, arranged in relay patterns to fix nitrogen, conserve moisture, and reduce pests. Compost and ash are added to beds, and seed exchange networks connect villages to maintain resilient stocks.

Ulowe is embedded in communal life, with planting, weaving, and harvest festivals marking the cycles. Knowledge is transmitted orally by elder farmers, and rituals emphasize reciprocity and stewardship of water and soil.

Early references appear in the fictional Chronicles of the Low River, dated to the 12th century in-universe, though archaeological-style finds in ceramic fragments suggest earlier practice. In some later texts, ulowe is presented as a model for sustainable farming in arid climates.

In contemporary world-building and role-playing games, ulowe is often cited as a detailed example of agroecological design, with variants adapting to different climates and scales, from village plots to regional cooperatives. Realistic depictions emphasize social organization, labor cycles, and water governance.