If you remember my earlier posts, I had mentioned about Sataf and its ancient agricultural practices. The region has two springs viz. Ein Bikura and Ein Sataf, which were used from old times (4000 BC). Today, the remains found in Sataf are from the Byzantine (4-5 cent AD) and Arab periods. The Israeli government is trying to re-introduce the ancient agricultural methods back to the region. The entire area is divided into terraces and the regions above the springs are irrigated from harvested rain water. The lower strata are watered from the springs directly: by their waters collected in cisterns and directed through a system of channels. I was told that farmers from Jerusalem hire plots in Sataf region for a short period and grow vegetables utilizing these facilities and harvest a good yield.
Here is a nice Jerusalem Post article.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733127951&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
"In this rocky-hilly region, dry farming (which relies only on rainfall for irrigation) was practiced using an elaborate system of terraces and tunnels. The springs here were not plentiful, so the existing water supply had to maximized. This was achieved by tunneling into the water-bearing strata. An ingenious system of channels (parts of which are clearly visible) conducted the water that was stored in large pools to the terraced plots." (http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000006236.htm)
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