Wild Rice

   As you paddle down the Big White Oak today, you see that the wild rice is starting to lift its head. For the first part of summer, it lies on top of the water. But as it starts to make seed, it lifts up from the water and stands three to four feet high.

   Then as the rice heads develop, the heavy kernels turn a beautiful tan color. This is what the local ricers call "Milk Stage". If you take a head of rice and squeeze it, you'll see that what comes out looks like milk.

   Then as the rice starts to dry, it's ready for harvest. The time for harvest isn't very long.

   The local Anishinaabe families harvested many pounds of rice to use for the winter food supply. What they had left over, they sold to Rice Buyers. The extra money helped too with school supplies for the kids and maybe a new pair of jeans.

   In the 1960's the white man figured out by accident how to plant and harvest wild rice and the price of hand picked rice tumbled. The Anishinaabe felt that the white man had won again.

   You can find the EBook Kindle edition of this book, "Brothers by Fire" at Amazon.com and at www.peaceriverbooks.com. The Peace River Books blog is updated frequently.    
   Stop in once in a while. I'll try to write something new and informative about "Brothers by Fire".   

Good Reading,
Ron

Cover Design and formatting by Covers Are Us