Harvest time

Harvest time has begun in Snow Country. It has been a warm, dry summer here and with the rice yellowing in the fields some areas have already started the harvest. That means the sweet, new rice will soon be available - yum.

Most places use a little rice harvesting machine to cut the rice plants (hell to get stuck behind on a narrow road) but many places still do it by hand. It is a fun thing to do, armed with a little serrated sickle you trim the plant close to the soil. The photo above has the plants with the rice grains still attached hanging over racks. In the past the straw was used for making many things from sandals and shawls to matting. There are still many places in Snow Country that offer weaving lessons where you can get in touch with the traditional skills of braiding the straw to make practical items. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for an interesting few hours.