Sweet Potato Uncle Kiln Introduction
Leaving the fictional portrayal of the Central Plains fields, earth oven (焢窯) activities are actually quite popular in Taiwan's countryside. In the past, after the autumn harvest of crops, earth oven activities became lively. On one hand, farmers had more free time after the harvest, and on the other hand, after harvesting rice, they could just plow the soil to loosen it, dry the harder clods, and use the solid clods to build ovens. Although the standard of living back then may not always allow for dishes like earth oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was an important recreational activity for rural children. Nowadays, children in society may not even have experienced making an earth oven; probably very few have even touched clay. Fortunately, in Hsinchu County, which emphasizes recreational agriculture, there are a few farms where visitors can experience making earth ovens, allowing the elderly to relive childhood memories and the younger generation to connect with the land and create their own earth ovens. Typing "焢窯" into Google's search engine, the Sweet Potato Uncle's earth oven in Beipu appears right at the top. Indeed, Beipu Bamboo Language Teahouse’s Sweet Potato Uncle’s earth oven is not only historically rich but also well-reviewed for its excellent facilities and attentive service. Many visitors have shared their experiences at this earth oven on their websites, which is no surprise that it ranks high in search engines. Beipu Bamboo Language Teahouse is located in Nanpu Village, Beipu Township. Heading south from Taiwan Provincial Highway No. 3, after passing the bustling old street community and Daping Creek, you arrive at the leisurely and picturesque Nanpu Village, rich in rural charm. Nanpu Village is known as the Golden Water Town, and through community collaboration, the water channels here have been dredged and repaired, constantly supplying the fields with needed water, resulting in excellent yields of rice, citrus, and vegetables. After crossing the century-old Banheng Bridge (Nanpu Bridge), one can continue along the field paths. Depending on the season, various crops can be seen along the roadside. After a fun identification contest of farm produce, you arrive at Sweet Potato Uncle’s earth oven. Sweet Potato Uncle is a real person. He is a local elder, a lifelong farmer who founded this leisure farm. Although now run by his son, you can still sometimes see him at the farm, helping to pound rice cakes or tending the fire, warmly welcoming visitors tirelessly. One of the benefits of going to Sweet Potato Uncle's earth oven is that the ingredients are already prepared and the oven is partially completed. Visitors are responsible for finishing the half-built earth oven; during the process, they need to watch the flames and once the food is inside and sealed, they do not need to stay by the oven and can participate in other farming activities at the farm. Straw is plentiful in the countryside. At first glance, when the farm staff take out straw to weave a traditional straw knife, visitors shake their heads and sigh, "This is too difficult!" "I can't make it!" But when the staff pull out two straws to guide the visitors step by step, you can see an 80-year-old elder and a 6- or 7-year-old child entirely focused on their tasks, and if someone falls behind, a staff member immediately assists. The seemingly complex straw knife can actually be crafted by each person in just half an hour. The children excitedly show off their creations, reminiscent of the concerns of children from the era of the song "Childhood" wondering who would get that treasured sword. After completing the straw knife, on another open space, staff members are inviting everyone to make scarecrows together. Two straws, one for the upper body and one for a skirt or trousers, along with items from the visitors' own belongings, create modern scarecrows wearing flower hats, sunglasses, and holding designer bags, making it a lively gathering in the fields. If there are enough people, guests can ride on an ox cart to town or participate in agricultural experience activities, ensuring everyone enjoys delicious food while fully experiencing the fun of farming. Additionally, across from the farm is the Jinxiu Hall, built by the ancestor of Sweet Potato Uncle in 1882. Remarkably, all the wood used for this house came from the same camphor tree, making it hard to imagine how large the tree must have been to accomplish such a feat. Interested visitors may want to visit this historic building that combines historical value and architectural beauty.
