The scene was incredibly beautiful from afar. The fields were sparsely dotted with villagers wearing traditional straw hats and wielding machetes by hand. The glowing, radiant tones of the early morning sun flooded with fields with gold. The rice dried in perfect bundles while nearby water buffalos slowly chewed straw. It was a scene that could have existed for a hundred years. I’d come to photograph this beautiful, rural setting and captured in this light, the scene could easily have appeared idyllic. But standing there, experiencing it firsthand, I quickly saw that the reality of harvesting rice by hand is simply brutal.
Rewind to earlier that week when I’d been speaking with the owner of my guesthouse on Don Khong and I realized my visit in November coincided with the annual rice harvest in Laos. Having previously learned about the different types of rice grown in Southeast Asia, I was interested to see the production in action.
Rice is ubiquitous in Southeast Asia. Rice is so pervasive it is served with nearly every meal. It comes with Thai-style omelet at breakfast, it’s made into a fried rice for lunch, it’s served next to a coconut curry for dinner and it’s even sweetened to make mango sticky rice for dessert. After months of eating what seemed like an endless supply of rice, I never could have imagined a sight that would make me value every single grain.
It happened on a hot, humid day when my friends and I rented motorbikes to explore the island of Don Khong. A few rural hamlets dot the riverbanks and it was these remote villages that I was keen to visit. But when I found myself standing on the edge of the red dirt road in the early morning light, I was overwhelmed by the reality of the scene in front of me – the heat, the dust, the sheer difficulty of the physical labour. While a few villagers in Laos do have access to a tractor or a bundling machine, the vast majority of rice is cut, tied into bundles and stacked to dry by hand. Later the dried stalks must be shaken to remove the rice and the grains spread out in the sun to dry. Finally the rice is poured in burlap sacs and stored throughout the year. Rice is a major regional staple and families in Laos can often be seen sharing a bowl of sticky rice along with a few vegetables as their main meal of the day.
Estimates say that 85% of the population of Laos lives off of subsistence farming, mostly by producing rice. While my own amateur gardening attempts have increased my awareness of the effort that goes into growing food, I had never been confronted with the reality of depending entirely on what you can produce to survive. Farmers in Laos are already well aware of the necessity of reducing food waste. Being directly reliant on the land to produce food means that the farmers do not waste materials. While I doubt a farmer in Laos would use the terms like sustainable, organic or free range, the truth is they have a solid understanding of these principles and their farming practices support a diverse, healthy ecosystem.
Once the rice was harvested, a water buffalo can always be seen staked out in the field eating the ‘waste’ stalks. While spending time in the fields the animals would convert the stalks into manure which would re-fertilize the land. At the same time, chickens go into the fields to eat any stray grains of rice as well as the plethora of insects found in manure. In this way, food waste was kept to a minimum and the energy is recycled back into the ecosystem. More importantly, the villagers increase their food security and nutrition by having a steady supply of milk, eggs and (occasionally) meat.
In the West, our farming system has become so remove from biological principles that we believe fertilizer comes in a powder from a factory and waste products must be shipped away for processing. We’ve forgotten that healthy farms are closed loop systems that feeds themselves.
After seeing the reality of the working and living conditions of the farmers, I can’t condone the romantic image that I’ve seen in many travel photos, that life in rural Laos is quaint and idyllic. However, I do believe that there are many lessons to be learned from a way of life that values the environment, encourages cooperation in a community and reduces waste. I’ve always had strong convictions against wasting food, but I will never look at a single grain of rice the same. After seeing the level of labour that goes into its production, I will forever value every single grain of rice.
Have you ever eaten rice? Just kidding!! What steps do you take to reduce your food waste?
Now It’s Your Turn! At home or abroad it is important to value our food and there are lots of simple ways. Create a shopping list or meal plan before you shop to reduce spoilage. Encourage your family to take small portions and add more to their plate if needed. Consider getting a compost bin to eliminate organic waste from the landfill. Read the great suggestions in the comments below as well!
Katy says
Great post Lauren. Sadly as a family with 2 small children we have a lot of food wastage. I try to compost as much as I can but really I think the best solution for us right now would be a dog. I am not trying to make light of this issue as I think it is extremely important. Food does not come “from the shop” (to quote my 2.5 year old twins). People toil and labour in often difficult conditions to produce our ready made meals. I think the more we educate ourselves on the provenance of our food and how it is processed, we will become better and more responsible consumers. Thanks for sharing
Katy recently posted…How to be a wonderful guest
globallocavore says
Hi Katy. Thanks for joining the discussion and sharing your experience with food waste & kids. I can only imagine how challenging it is to meal plan, shop, cook and then feed two small children. I recently led a sustainability workshop with some 5 year olds and they could hardly believe that food comes from the ground and that leftover food can become soil (aka compost) again. We definitely need to make sure the next generation knows about growing healthy, sustainable food so thank you so much for teaching yours and showing them how to be responsible consumers. 🙂
Anisa says
You are very right, we do take rice (and our lifestyle) for granted. I am terrible at gardening and would be in big trouble if I had to grow everything I could eat. It is a good reminder to be thankful for the little things we take for granted.
globallocavore says
Hi Anisa. You comment made me laugh because you are completely right! It totally hits the nail on the head, we would all be in big trouble if we suddenly had to go back to producing all our own food. That is a wonderful way of thinking about it and really hitting home the message about why we should value farmers and the food they produce. Thanks so much for sharing.
Jen May says
As a vegan on a high carb diet, I am basically living on rice! This is very informative! Though I already have almost no waste of food (planning really hard…and eating too 😉 ) I will try even better and inspire others to do the same!
globallocavore says
Hi Jen May. Thanks for the comment. I love that you are already so waste conscious and are planning to inspire others to act similarly. The more conversations we can have around food waste, the better the outcome will be!
Kaylene says
Incredible post. It’s always good to be reminded of the things we take for granted. It’s great to see what travel can teach us and make us more aware of.
globallocavore says
Hi Kaylene, thanks you for those kind words! I agree completely, travel is a powerful force in opening our eyes to the ways of the world. I feel so privileged to have been able to see as much as I have so far.
Rebecca says
Beautiful and thought provoking! I recently read a book about the production of lemons and other citrus fruit in Italy and how labour intensive it is…many farmers gave up because hand picking etc doesn’t earn enough. Here, luckily, some have been given government grants to maintain their farms as part of italy’s culture but I guess in Laos that’s not the case!
globallocavore says
Hi Rebecca. Oh that’s so interesting. I love reading about the history of agriculture and how it has impacted a region’s culture. I think all over the world those traditional farming methods (and crops) are being replaced by machines and genetically modified crops to make life “easier” but we’ve forgotten the value of well produced food. I’m delighted to hear that Italy is putting in place grants to help keep farms viable as the food they produce is such an important part of Italian life & community. I doubt that Laos has any such programs, but perhaps there are some NGOs working on that area. Thanks for sharing that story.
Rebecca says
Living in the US, I think we forget how difficult farming is. We used to be a country that valued farming. There were many farms here in Bucks County, PA, but sadly, so much of the land is being sold. It is being used for townhouses and huge homes that I don’t know how people possibly afford. Back in the days, the US could be a self-sustaining country, but it sure doesn’t seem like that anymore. It may be difficult, but places like Laos can be proud to be able to live off the land and their own efforts.
globallocavore says
Hi Rebecca. What an insightful comment. I live in Toronto, Canada and we are experiencing the same thing – all the healthy, productive farmland is being covered with housing complexes. I spend my time wondering how on earth we will be able to feed all these people when there is no where left to farm! Countries like the US & Canada have so much wonderful land but we mostly produce commodity crops (like corn & soya) for export and have to import real food products from abroad. The system is crazy! I love what you said: it is hard to produce your own food, but it is something to be proud of. Thank you so much for contributing to the conversation.
Valery says
Not only did I love this post but I love your writing style! Great read 🙂
globallocavore says
Thank you kindly Valery! It makes me so happy to read that!!
Marcella ~ WhatAWonderfulWorld says
A beautifully reflective post. I enjoyed reading this and I love that your words made me stop and think too, I agree that it can often seem idyllic but the reality is far beyond that. Thank you for the reminder.
Marcella ~ WhatAWonderfulWorld recently posted…Admiring the Most Amazing Walls
globallocavore says
Hi Marcella. I am so glad this article gave you pause to think about the food system. I’m a big believer that education/awareness can lead to solutions. Thank you for another lovely comment.
Karla Strand says
I really enjoyed this post! I appreciate your writing style and the message. I’m glad you were able to have this experience and share it with us.I will be sharing! 😀
globallocavore says
Hi karla, thank you so much! I’m so happy that you found it valuable and wanted to share it with others. I think a big part of the solution to our food system problems is through education so the more people know, the better the conditions will eventually be. 🙂
Katie @ The Budget Backpack says
I really value your perspective here. I’m a pretty firm believer that there is a widespread epidemic of people who just have zero clue how their food… became food. I *try* to observe a plant-based diet at home because when I found out what went into me getting my ice cream, cheese, and bacon (in the US-specifically)…. I couldn’t really un-know it, ya know? Similarly, in Asia, they have backbreaking days of labour for a possibly unknown yield…. but outsiders may not understand what goes into it since at home its all machines and automated systems – not real people. Thanks for sharing!!
globallocavore says
Hi Katie. Thanks for the wonderful comment. Your thoughts on dairy and meat produced in factory farms throughout North America is spot on. The conditions for the animals are appalling, the environmental consequences severe and the end product is poor quality! Ah! What’s wrong with our food system? The answer to that is a rant in another post I guess! As you mentioned, it is all about education so more people understand where their food is coming from. Thanks for joining in the important discussion.
Johna says
I loveeeee rice. Don’t think I can go a week with it! Hehe. I always make sure I eat everything on my plate so nothing goes to waste ??? awesome photos btw!
globallocavore says
Haha! I love that comment! I am a big fan of rice as well which made travelling in southeast asia such a pleasure. I’m happy to hear you eat every little grain. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Johna.
Michelle | michwanderlust says
I really love this article! I eat rice a lot (I’m Singaporean) but I don’t actually care for it that much unless it’s fried, haha. I agree the amount of food wastage is absurd (esp of rice here where lots of people are going low-carb)! I always ask for less rice when I eat out but they still give me way more than I can finish. Short of not having rice at all, i really don’t know what to do.
globallocavore says
Hi Michelle. You brought up an excellent point about the excessive portion size at most restaurants these days. A large amount of food waste could be avoid if they served a reasonably sized portion! I think asking for less or for a take out container is a really good approach. Thanks for sharing that tip. 🙂
Van @ Snow in Tromso says
I think Norway is one of the countries in Europe with the highest rates of food waste. When talking to other international students here, we all agreed that our Norwegian flatmates throw away food almost every day. I guess it’s got something to do with money. If you don’t have to be careful with every penny you spend, throwing away food becomes really easy but it’s such a shame!
globallocavore says
Hey Van. That is so interesting! I would have guessed that Norway would have good waste reduction habits as Scandinavia has a reputation for sustainability. I’m sad to hear that people waste food daily, but it is definitely becoming more and more common all over the world. Once food is easily (and cheaply like you said) accessible in grocery store, it’s value is reduced. I think we all need to have a little container garden to remind ourselves how much work goes into producing food. Thanks so much for sharing!
Dara says
I have always wanted to visit Laos! Seems like such a beautiful country.
Living in Egypt, I don’t waste nearly as much food as I used to in the USA. A lot less goes to waste here, whether it’s given to the poor or to the street animals.
globallocavore says
Hi Dara! I’d definitely recommend visiting Laos if you ever get the chance. It was a country I expected to visit, but I fell in love with it. That’s so interesting that you waste less in Egypt. I think the USA (and my proxy Canada where I’m from) are the worst food wasters because of our agricultural system and trade agreements. I could go on all day about it, but needless to say every little bit that an individual can do to reduce their food waste is helpful. Thanks for sharing your experience!
budget jan says
I agree that the whole process of rice farming, from planting to husking the rice is very labour intensive. And for just those tiny grains of rice. Millions of them. Amazing. Wonderful photos by the way!
globallocavore says
Thanks Jan! I am so pleased you liked the photos. I was shocked at the level of work that goes into making rice and I was troubled by any tiny amount that got spilled or left behind. It’s an ingenious system that they use domesticated animals to ‘clean up’ the waste and convert it into protein!
Corinne says
Anisa, I believe so many people in this world work hard, very hard as you point out. I have witnessed the rice harvest in a few countries and it does boggle the mind of a westerner. Great article.
globallocavore says
Yes, we are rarely confronted with how hard farmers work aren’t we? It felt like an important story to share to remind us all of the effort that goes into food production all over the world. Thanks for commenting!
Amila @Leisure and Me says
Really interesting post and I enjoyed every single word of it.It is true,we need to value every grain of rice.It is so much hard work behind the scene to produce rice.And even worst,the farmers don’t get a fair rate for the rice they produce.
As a Sri Lankan I have experience among paddy fields.These photos make me wanting to go back to Sri Lanka…
Amila @Leisure and Me recently posted…Sri Lanka Anuradhapura – Must Visit attractions
globallocavore says
Hi Amaila, thanks for your wonderful comment. You brought up such a good point that farmers rarely get paid a decent wage for what they produce both abroad and at home (in Canada and much of the western world). I would love to visit Sri Lanka, see the rice fields and meet the farmers!
Grey World Nomads says
Your pictures are beautiful and show the simplicity and beauty of Laos. Thank you!
globallocavore says
Thanks so much for the compliment! I’m glad you liked the photos.
carrie says
Such an interesting post, Lauren! and I have to say your photos are stunning. I’ve been loving your blog! 🙂
Isabel says
Wow thank you for this! We really need to appreciate more where our food comes true, and from WHOM. This is such a labor of love!
Isabel recently posted…5 Must Visit Destinations for your Next Roadtrip in Portugal (w/ Lisbon Riders)
Ruth says
Your article touched something inside me. It did in part because I know a lot of people who work in the fields of California’s Central Valleys. It is a hard job done under extreme conditions (and with not a lot of monetary rewards). But, we tend to take for granted the people who cultivate our food and food itself. My husband and I try hard no to waste food and encourage others to do the same.
Ruth recently posted…San Xavier: White Dove of the Desert
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
I really like your writing and how you set the scene.
Friends of mine did a bit of voluntourism in Cambodia where they helped a woman harvest her rice by hand. Needless to say, it was quite and eyeopening experience, especially for their kids. They hurt so much after one day of laboring in the field and were quite thankful that they didn’t have to do it to survive.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} recently posted…36 Hours in Cody, Wyoming
Tag Along Deb says
Great post. What I value most about travel as a North American is being able to see how the majority of the rest of the world lives and works. Without exposure like this it’s easy to lose perspective within one’s privilege. Thanks for adding to the awareness.
Tag Along Deb recently posted…Hilton Grand Vacations Timeshare Presentation Review