BWCA Wild Rice Harvesting Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Quetico Forum
      Wild Rice Harvesting     

Author

Text

ATDoel
member (44)member
  
08/18/2016 11:51AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Anyone ever harvested wild rice in the Q? Taking a trip in mid September, we frequently passed wild rice on the route we take. We aren't really interested in taking a bunch back with us, but just enough to eat for a couple days while camping.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
dentondoc
distinguished member(1097)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/18/2016 02:13PM  
quote ATDoel: "Anyone ever harvested wild rice in the Q? Taking a trip in mid September, we frequently passed wild rice on the route we take. We aren't really interested in taking a bunch back with us, but just enough to eat for a couple days while camping."

I seem to remember mention being made of the First Nation using certain areas in Quetico for rice harvesting, some of which was for sacred/ceremonial purposes. One such lake is in the Kawnipi area. For that reason alone, I'd not likely engage in rice harvesting. Secondly, I have no real interest in spending time doing that kind of activity while in the Q. (Just my humble opinion ... mileage may vary.)

dd
thebotanyguy
distinguished member(781)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/18/2016 03:34PM  
In addition to observing the proper harvest regulations (provincial and tribal), there is processing after harvest: parching, jigging, and winnowing. It isn't as simple as grabbing a few handfuls of wild rice and throwing it in the cooking pot.

Wild rice harvest in Minnesota
marsonite
distinguished member(2468)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/18/2016 08:01PM  
quote ATDoel: "Anyone ever harvested wild rice in the Q? Taking a trip in mid September, we frequently passed wild rice on the route we take. We aren't really interested in taking a bunch back with us, but just enough to eat for a couple days while camping."


I tried once, not while canoeing, but with a bit I had harvested. Didn't really work, as I couldn't get the husks to come off. Found out later that you have to age it a bit so the husks deteriorate. Then you parch it (maybe could be done in a cast iron fry pan), which takes quite a while. Lastly you have to winnow it by throwing it up in the breeze. Lots of work, but it would be cool to say you did it.
ATDoel
member (44)member
  
08/19/2016 02:20PM  
Hmmmm.... sounds like a lot of work, maybe if we were out there longer than a week it would be worth it haha
guest
Guest Paddler
  
08/23/2016 04:11PM  
Take nothing but photos, kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footsteps.

(My $.02)
mr.barley
distinguished member(7231)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
08/23/2016 06:08PM  
My brother went ricing once. Every time he talks about it he mentions lots of spiders.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next