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 My blog was filled up. I'm too lazy to clean it out. So I started a new one. |
| I was flabbergasted. I discovered a TV channel this afternoon called So Yummy. It has only minimal commercials, which is a plus. But it intended to be somewhat educational. Short videos showing the making of snacks, using a pastry dough and fruit, no sugar added, were shown in rapid fire succession. No printed recipe or ingredient list appeared. I tried looking it up online. I only found general information, not the specific items featured today. There were quizzes about food, about French dishes, about Italian food, so, I had to watch those. Then came a special documentary. A young reporter narrated and demonstrated wild rice in Canada. No cooking directions given, only the how's and who's of harvesting. The wild rice seed is not native but introduced in the 1800's to Saskatchewan. Over 50% of wild rice comes from here. Indigenous people make their living caring for and harvesting the rice and carrying it to the processing plant. The video makes it appear that women are very involved in this harvest. They use air boats to harvest the rice. It can grow in water inches deep up to six feet deep. The front of the boat has something that looks like a dump truck loader. They explained you have to go along at the right speed, not too fast, not too slow to avoid damaging the rice beds. They take a load to the bank where a clean canvas or tarp awaits them. One on the ground, the workers use a lightweight special shovel (looks like a snow shovel) to scoop up some rice and put in a big bag. The bags will weigh around 60 pounds and are placed on a scale. Each person harvesting has his or her own number. That number is put on the bag, then the bag goes on a wheeled pallet. When that is full, it goes to the 18 wheeler. I'd like to know a little more about the processing and what happens to it before it gets to market. How many human hands will touch it? How does it get clean? Important stuff like that. I appreciate the comments about growing in the pristine waters of the lake and the cool temperatures. The harvest takes place in August and September. The same area can be re-harvested 3 or 4 days later. One air boat driver did say the rice keeps feeding itself and growing while being harvested. They all claimed they like being close to nature and the calmness of the lake. It is very satisfying work for them. It makes me want to support them by purchasing wild rice. Not only is it better for us according to nutritionists, but is a way of supporting the indigenous people and carrying on their traditions of the last 100 years. |
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