The world in a grain of rice

Shanghai

Hold grains of rice and marvel at the bounty of nature. Shi Yingying shares the experience.

Thirty minutes away from downtown Shanghai, farmers at Maqiao Farm tend the paddy fields, visitors clamber up trees to look into bird's nests and orchids grow wild by the wayside.

Each year in autumn, Maqiao Farm throws open its gates to welcome guests from the city who want to harvest rice with their own hands. Many have no idea what a rice paddy looks like and those eager to have a hands-on experience include urban white collars, families with small kids and even the few curious expatriates.

"We have no sea and no mountains, but what we do have is plenty of rice," says Lu, a local farmer. "But we didn't expect it to become an attraction or tourist site."

The rice harvest usually starts early in October when the water is drained from the fields. The farmers reap the rice with sickles, and the stubble is left about a foot high so the rice laid across the top will dry quickly.

Harvesting rice is not as easy as it sounds. Cheng Cheng, who organizes the activity every year, says the main challenge is to make sure no one gets hurt using the sickles.

"They come for fun and we have to guarantee their safety. It's very easy to cut yourself if it's your first time using the sickle," she says.

During clear days, the rice is tied into small sheaves one or two days after the rice is cut. If it rains the sheaves need to be carried to the barn or stack-yard immediately. Rice hulling requires professional skill and qualified workers to run the threshing machine, but visitors can still visit the mill to see the whole process.

Day-trippers get lunch as well - a healthy repast of fresh rice, organic vegetables and a lovely baked sweet potato in its jacket.

(China Daily 10/10/2010 page15)