The Land of Smiles: Rice

Hello! Yesterday, I went to a rice farm with a group of teachers to see check out the place, and see if it is a suitable place for a future field trip. They suffered a great deal from the flood, so they wanted to make sure we were happy with what they have left to offer during field trips. I am definitely taking my students out there. The farm is located an hour from the school, but really feels like you are out in the countryside. It was fun and I learned a lot.

The farm is run by a family that lives in this house (which is made of teak). They are so kind and charge next to nothing to host field trips that are super educational and fun for students. Next year I am going to bring my students out here for an overnight trip. They will get to sleep in tents in the field (something many of them have never done).

Their kitchen...outdoors.

Where they get water to water their plants.

The owner showing us his vegetable garden.

His neighbour's rice field.

Mushrooms (not to be consumed).

The mama cooking in her kitchen.

More cooking.

Cutting the claws off some feet (luckily we were not served these for lunch).

An river eel trap. Kind of like a crab trap...they swim in, and can't get out.

A gift of corn. Maybe I can plant some at home ?

We got a tour of inside their house (which is all open except the bedroom).
Talk about having fresh laundry.

Roar.

Gooseberries growing by their bedroom.

An ice cream man cruising around their neighbourhood. Not sure how much business he gets way out there!

One of their rice fields!

Showing us how they harvest it by hand (the old fashioned way)

You have to beat it against wood to get the grains loose.

Then you shake it to separate the rice from its shell (not sure what the proper terms are).

Rice.

Translated to english, this is what they call a "dumbass trap". Where the dumb river fish simply swim in and trap themselves. No need to waste bait. Little effort required.