I am struck by how quickly something can end. This rice growing journey that I carried around as a dream for so many years ended almost as quickly as the lush verdant green rice turned a golden hue as soon as water was cut off to the fields. There were moments when I wondered if I would actually get to plow and work the fields as I waited in the beginning and there were moments especially during the actual harvest when I looked out at the fields that still needed to be harvested and wondered if it would ever be over. And then all of a sudden it was.
I began harvesting the fields of Aunty Yui's cousin P' Doc on November 13, about a week after the water which had been flowing consistently through the paddy fields up until that point was turned off. I was surprised that harvest began that quickly. The soil/mud in the fields was actually still quite soft and still had not dried up a week later. I spent most of my harvesting days working with P' Doc's team of six hired hands though spent a morning with Aunty Yui's team also. She was unsure if she would have enough help so I showed up and she had ten people working for her and that day P' Doc only had three so I felt a little bad for committing to the larger team. But you aren't reading this to hear about my rice harvesting conflicted emotions!
Like every other stage in the rice growing season, harvest is back breaking work. Working hopefully with long sleeves and gloves and a sickle/scythe you grab the rice stems and cut keeping the blade down to avoid any accidental injuries. Cutting techniques change depending on if the rice is still standing upright or has been blown over by the wind/rain.
The cut rice is laid gently down in rows to dry for three days (and it is amazing how quickly is dries turning literally to straw) before being gathered up and tied into bundles which are then carried to the threshing floor.
It took seven days before the last rice stalks were cut and several more days until it was all gathered in under the safety of a roof in case of late season rain. From that point on the threshing can happen but isn't as urgent as when the rice is laying out unprotected in the elements.
Threshing happens in a variety of ways - Mechanical rice threshing machines do exist are are starting to become more common, most people still thresh by hand - beating the rice with sticks, others try out other 'new' ways - laying the rice down on the road and repeatedly driving a car/truck over it - all these methods shake the rice grains from the stalk.
 |
| P'Doc |
Posts
