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More about corn and some stern advise
Mrs. Matsumoto kneels in front of a new batch of drying corn. 99.09.28/ Temperature: 12C/ Weather: Clear/ Wind Direction: E
Start: Kami Ashioro, Ashioro/Latitude: 43 18 19 N/Longitude: 143 01 30 E
Destination: Intersection of highway 240 and 241
Latitude: 43 15 56 N/Longitude: 143 35 43 E
Distance Traveled: 19 kmThis morning I made my way down from Kami Ashoro into Ashoro valley. Walking along in the valley was quite a new feeling after the flat planes of Shari and Koshimizu, and the mountainous forests of Shiretoko and Akan. In addition to small farm houses, many seemingly abandoned houses and far stretching fields of drying beans, beets, and corn accompanied me for much of the way to my encounter with an interesting farming couple.
The vegetable stand stood just off of the shoulder of the road. Its pillars were all-natural wood. Under one roof was space for fresh potatoes, pumpkin, egg plant, and corn; under another were hand made stools lined up surrounding a large wooden table made from a large tree trunk. I approached the vegetable stand curious to see what I might discover. Covered in the shadow of the roof, the shopkeeper in her worn apron and slightly offcentered baseball cap said cheerfully, "If you need anything just let me know."
My interest was drawn quickly to a plastic woven basket which reminded me of traditional Japanese bamboo baskets. As I stood in front of the baskets, the shopkeeper, approached. "These are all hand made. Not so many people have the skill to make such baskets anymore," she said smiling. We both agreed that it was a fine basket and that it is a shame so few people know how to make them. I then explained to the woman that I was searching for wisdom and asked if there was anything that she might like to share with World School Network.
Without hesitating she rummaged through several bags and pulled out a small plastic bag full of dried corn. "This is all sun-dried corn," explained Mrs. Matsumoto. "Nowadays everybody eats frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables have less nutrition. When you sun dry things it keeps in more of the nutrients." I asked when and how she would prepare the dried corn. "You boil the corn first, then lay it out in the sun in a basket until it is dry. We save the corn until the winter when we no longer have fresh vegetables. We soak the corn in water. After draining the water once or twice, we boil it and it makes a nice soup.
Mr. and Mrs. Matsumoto relax in the shade with a customer at their vegetable stand. Kids used to have this as a snack." Mrs. Matsumoto's daughter told me that it was delicious and that I should take some on my journey since it is light and healthy. I couldn't pass up the opportunity so humbly accepted a handful. "Once you boil the corn, it will be disinfected. Dried foods like this are good. I recommend it to you with confidence." I accepted with confidence that it would rest well in my stomach and happy to have learned about a healthy way to preserve corn.
Just as my many thanks were coming to an end a small diesel truck pulled up. Mrs. Matsumoto leaned over placing several logs into a wood stove which was heating potatoes in a large iron pot. The stove and pot resembled a giant Japanese wood heated bath. Mr. Matsumoto slowly stepped out of the truck, smiled and looked worried that I couldn't speak Japanese. I greeted him in Japanese, his wife told him that I was an ambitious young man, and he sat in front of me looking curiously at my backpack.
We broke the ice over a cup of hot barley tea and the timing seemed right to ask Mr. Matsumoto how he feels about young people who don't respect the environment. Soft and sternly Mr. Matsumoto said, "These days, if anything is left over, people just throw it out. Young people no longer work; everything is done by machine. People even drive right up to their doorsteps." I nodded and asked how he suggests one should pass on respect for the environment. "Put simply, patience is necessary. People need to be able to put up with thing. Now people don't put up with anything. If a machine breaks down, rather than fixing it, a new one is purchased. In the old days we fixed everything. Ultimately, the environment keeps getting worse because people live so luxuriously."
The combination of Mrs. Matsumoto's light cheerfulness and the friendly, firm opinion of Mr. Matsumoto blended to make a nice medium between them. When the time came, I hesitantly made my second round of thanks and headed toward Ashoro.
Greg
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