An uneven plot - an uneven harvest.

Here's another lesson from the field that I learnt from Tita on our journey to the airport - while the guys and gals were enjoying and sleeping behind in the van, I was keeping her awake...

we had a look at the rice field as we left IFL. "Oh no" she exclaimed. I asked why. She told me that the padi plants were uneven - meaning some were sprouting before the others. This meant an uneven harvest - which meant a lesser yield for the season.

"Why? how did this happen" I asked.

She sighed and told me it was because the farmers did not plough the land thoroughly. There were areas of uneven ground where water could accumulate and other areas where water did not. this results in an uneven harvest and lower yield.

So what did I learn ?

1) The preparation for a great fruitful harvest takes a great deal of ploughing and work. It takes diligence to ensure the entire plot of land is done up properly before the seed is sown. Preparation of a woman and man of God takes time. No shortcuts. It takes time.

2) The harvest reveals the soil.


I remember the last lesson I learnt in December 2004 from IFL - and that was to protect the rice field.
This time, the lesson is - a good harvest requires diligent ploughing.

I wonder what other padi lessons I will learn next.