July 13, 2006 Field of Dreams

The bus stopped so that we could actually go into one of the fields of rice paddies. We had to walk on very narrow paths to get out into the field. As we walked we see areas that have just been planted and will be fully grown in 2 ½ month. We also see areas that have been harvested and have black burned stalks on them; the purpose is to fertilize the ground. (See Picture) We walked past a wooden machine that is a “Threshing” machine that separates the rice from the stalks it grows on. The left over stalks are what are burned and then thrown on the harvested land to fertilize the ground. The workers work all day in the fields will limited breaks (bathroom breaks are taken in the field!). It is the busiest season right now for the Hunan farmers because they are growing two crops of rice. When the rice has been separated from the stalks it is placed in baskets and carried to the farmer’s home. Here he spreads the rice still in its husk on his driveway. It is his wife’s responsibility to spread the rice out to dry. (See the picture of Professor Yu, taking over for the lady.) When Professor Yu graduated from High School he was sent to the country side for 1 year working in the fields. This was Mao’s plan to re – educate the “City” kids. This mandated re –educations purpose was to teach the “city kids where the food they ate came from.” This also solved the problem of unemployment in the cities. These High school graduates were given these jobs, so they weren’t hanging out in the cities unemployed. It is hard work, especially in this Hot, Hot weather! After the rice with husk is dried the farmer sells his rice to the processing plants where it becomes the rice we eat today. The farmer keeps some rice for his family to survive on and then he sells the rest. The processing plants pay the farmers for the crop he brings in.