Harvesting Continues on Rich Ranch

Collecting the Cobs

After all the celebrations of the wedding it was back to work for everyone in the valley.

The main harvesting has been done and the maize has gone off to the Co-op for storage and as we need it we will draw from our stock. The only reason we plant maize or any other kind of crop is to feed our cattle in winter. There are loads of cobs that have not been collected up by the Combined Harvester so they are left on the on the soil.

Cattle Finish Leftovers

On a farm there is not much that is wasted and the cobs that were not harvested are then collected by hand. We let all the local farm hands in the valley come in and collect them. This is laborious work. This work is done by all the women as the men are working on the farms in the valley. They are picked up by hand and then the kernels are removed from the cob. The whole kernels will be used as feed for their poultry and some will be ground and used as “Mielie Meal” (In South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and many other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, a relatively coarse flour (much coarser than cornflour or cornstarch) made from maize (mielies or mealies; It is a staple food traditionally made into many forms of dishes, such as Umngqusho, sour-milk porridge, pap, or even Umqombothi (a type of beer). Compare "samp" and "sadza." It is similar to Italian polenta or American grits except that it is usually made of a white rather than a yellow maize variety.)

Once the ladies have finished there will will once again be no waste. We send the cattle into the lands and they will finish grazing whatever is left.
I just love being here experiencing all this and knowing I am very fortunate to be living so close to nature and gaining all this knowledge.
Next time you sit down to your meal – appreciate it.