Sweet Potato Uncle Oven Introduction
Leaving the scenes depicted in novels of the Central Plains, earth ovens are also quite popular in Taiwan's countryside. In the past, after the harvest in autumn, the activity of crafting earth ovens would be in full swing. On one hand, farmers had more free time post-harvest, and after their rice harvest, they only needed to plow the soil, excavate and dry the harder clumps of mud, which could then be used to build the ovens. Although life was not always at a level where one could afford clay oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was always an important recreational activity for rural children. Nowadays, children in society may hardly have any experience with earth ovens, and probably only a few have ever touched clay. Fortunately, in Hsinchu County, which emphasizes recreational agriculture, there are several farms where one can enjoy earth ovens, allowing the elderly to reminisce about their childhood experiences and the younger ones to connect with the land, establishing their own earth oven. Typing "earth oven" into Google, the "Sweet Potato Uncle's Earth Oven" in Beipu appears at the top of the page. Indeed, Beipu Zhuyuchalu Sweet Potato Uncle's Earth Oven is well-regarded not only for its long history but also for its comprehensive facilities and attentive service. Many tourists have shared their experiences at this earth oven on their websites, which explains its popularity in search engines. Beipu Zhuyuchalu is located in Nanpu Village of Beipu Township. Traveling south from Provincial Highway 3, after passing the bustling old street and Daping Creek, one arrives at the leisurely and comfortable Nanpu Village, full of rural charm. Nanpu Village is known as the "Golden Water Township." Through community efforts, the irrigation ditches here have been dredged and repaired, supplying a continuous flow of clean water for the fields, resulting in excellent harvests of rice, citrus, and vegetables. After passing the century-old Bajian Bridge (Nanpu Bridge), one continues along the field roads. Depending on the season, one can see different crops along the roadside. After a brief contest of crop identification, one arrives at the Sweet Potato Uncle's Earth Oven. Sweet Potato Uncle is a real person. He is a local elder who has spent his life as a farmer and founded this leisure farm. Now that the farm is run by his son, visitors can still occasionally see him helping out, whether making rice cakes or tending to the oven, warmly greeting guests with great effort. One of the benefits of visiting Sweet Potato Uncle's Earth Oven is that the ingredients are prepared, and the oven is already partially built. Tourists are only responsible for completing the half-finished earth oven and monitoring the flames during the process; once the food is placed in and the oven is sealed, they need not vigilantly guard the oven and can participate in other farming activities at the farm. In the countryside, straw is definitely abundant. When the farm staff brings out the straw-made scissors, tourists might shake their heads and sigh, "This is too hard!" "I can't do it!" However, with staff demonstrating with two pieces of straw, encouraging tourists to follow the steps slowly, one can see an 80-year-old man and a child about six or seven years old fully engrossed in the task. If anyone is lagging behind, staff will promptly assist. The seemingly complex straw scissors can be completed by each person in just half an hour. Children excitedly compare their creations, reminiscent of the era worrying about "Who will get the sword first, Zhuge Liang or the devil party?" After finishing the straw scissors, on another open space, the staff invites everyone to participate in making scarecrows. Two pieces of straw are used, one for the upper body and one for the skirt or pants. Adding the tourists' own accessories, modern-day scarecrows can be adorned with flowered hats, sunglasses, and designer bags, heading off to this lively agricultural banquet. If there are enough participants, one can ride a bull cart through the streets or engage in agricultural experiences, ensuring that everyone enjoys a delightful culinary experience while fully immersing themselves in the joys of farming. Additionally, across from the farm, the Jinxiu Hall was built by Sweet Potato Uncle's ancestor, the Zhuang family, in 1882. Remarkably, all the wood used for this residence came from the same camphor tree, making it hard to imagine the size of the giant tree required to achieve such a task. Interested visitors may want to visit this historically and architecturally valuable old house.
