Harvesting Rice

The humidity of summer is long gone, the nights and mornings are brisk and chilly, and the days are the perfect fall-weather temperature.  It's nearly November and the trees are just starting to reach their peak color and the rice fields have turned golden yellow.

In July, I wrote a post about the rice fields being planted.  In September, I wrote about the rice fields heavy with grains.  Now it's time for the final part of the rice cycle, harvesting.  I have never seen rice fields before coming here to Korea.  I'm so glad that I was able to see and photograph the entire process.

A machine separates the rice grains from the rice grass.

The cut rice grass is laid in rows on top of the cut fields to dry.

When the grass has dried, becoming rice straw or hay, it is gathered into bundles.

Rice straw being bundled manually by field workers. 

The rice straw bundles are wrapped in plastic and later used to feed cattle.

*******

"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."

~Robert Byrne