Maybe you might be wondering whats in the picture...
The picture is one of our precious tool we used in harvesting our rice here in our place.. If in other places they use sickle in harvesting their crops, in here we call it "lakem". In this article i'm going to feature the way how we harvest our palays(ricegrains). Please read till the end. Imagine you are with me under the rays of the sun with the soft blows of the wind surrounded by yellow golden grains.
Using the tool in the picture, we cut the stalks with our fingers and hold it in our other hand, when it reaches the size to be bundled, we tie it using dried and cleaned straw of a bamboo plant family... Handling it is very difficult for a new user because you will get blisters in your fingers first before you become an expert. ๐
These past few days, i'm busy in accompanying our relatives in harvesting their palays. Its featured in one of the article of @Z_graeden , the "Bayanihan"
By this activity, came the idea why not make an article for it as i really wanted badly to create one so here it goes...
We as a group young and old alike lend our hands to our relatives, neighbors and friends during harvest season. This remarkable trait and custom doesn't leave us because its part of our living here in our village. In return for this free labored activity, the ricefield owner or the farmer will provide our meals for the whole day. The foods are one of what we love most during this season. ๐
The foods are excellent, the fragrance of a newly cooked native rice floats into the air and our viands are boiled, smoked and salted meat and boiled beans and vegetables. Maybe you don't like it but its our delicacy in here. Its very nice eating in the open field. The feeling is like you are having a picnic. Our beverage is an extract from ricewine.
After the harvest, bundled grains are collected and the total harvest are divided between the ricefield owner and the farmer who farmed his ricefield. But if its the owner alone farmed his own ricefield then he has no one to share.
Next is the division of bundled rice among the boys who brought their "gimmat" (a woven rice carrier). If the harvest can't be carried by the boys alone, women will carry what what left. But in most situation, nothing was left.
And the last is, we all head home though tired from the heat of the sun but with satisfaction that we accomplished something beneficial.
You may find this boring but i enjoyed the activity...
I'm sending this entry to Daily Trends (1c5e) essay
If you want to join here's the update
https://read.cash/@Dolores/photo-essay-event-updates-47fd5c9a
I'm going to the field again ... A cousin of my husband just called while i'm typing this article
wonderful writing and amazing photograpy.