Sweet Potato Uncle's Clay Oven Introduction
Leaving the novel's depiction of the central plains, brick kilns are quite popular in Taiwan's countryside as well. In the past, after the autumn harvest, kiln activities were in full swing. On one hand, farmers had more free time after the harvest, and once the rice was harvested, they could loosen the soil with a plow, dry out the harder clumps of mud, and use sturdy clumps to build kilns. Although life back then did not necessarily afford constant access to clay oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was always an important source of entertainment for rural children. In today's society, children may not even have had the experience of building kilns, let alone have touched clay. Fortunately, Hsinchu County, which emphasizes leisure agriculture, has several farms where brick kilns can still be built, allowing the elderly to reminisce about their childhood experiences and the younger generation to connect with the land, creating their own brick-kiln experiences. Typing "brick kiln" into Google, "Banana Uncle's Brick Kiln" in Beipu appears at the top of the search results. Indeed, the Beipu Bamboo Language Tea and Banana Uncle's Brick Kiln, besides having a long history, is also well-regarded for its well-equipped facilities and attentive service. Many visitors post their experiences at this brick kiln on their own websites, explaining why it ranks high in search engine results. Beipu Bamboo Language Tea is located in Nanpu Village of Beipu Township. Driving south on Provincial Highway 3, after passing the bustling old street settlement and Daping Creek, you enter the leisurely and comfortable Nanpu Village, which is full of rural charm. Known as the "Golden Water Town," the community has collaborated to clean and repair the irrigation ditches, providing an uninterrupted supply of fresh water for the fields, resulting in excellent yields of rice, citrus fruits, and vegetables. After crossing the Centennial Bridge (Nanpu Bridge) built a century into the Republic of China, one can proceed along the paths between the fields. Depending on the season, different crops can be seen along the roadside. After a crop identification competition, you will arrive at Banana Uncle's Brick Kiln. Banana Uncle is indeed a real person—an indigenous elder who has spent his life as a farmer and founded this leisure farm. Even though it is now run by his son, visitors can still occasionally spot him at the farm, helping to pound rice cakes or tending to the kiln, warmly greeting guests without reservation. One of the benefits of visiting Banana Uncle's Brick Kiln is that the ingredients are already prepared, and the kiln is half-completed. Tourists only need to finish the partially completed brick kiln, watch the flames, and after placing the food and sealing the kiln, they don't have to stay beside the kiln but can participate in other farming activities on the farm. Straw is absolutely abundant in the countryside. When the staff at the farm pull out the straw to create a straw knife, visitors shake their heads and exclaim, "This is too difficult!" "I can't do this!" However, the staff seduces visitors with two pieces of straw, guiding them step-by-step through the process, where you can see an eighty-year-old elder and six or seven-year-old children focused on creating their own pieces. If anyone falls behind, staff members promptly lend a hand. Although the structure seems complex, each person can make a straw knife in just half an hour. Children happily compare their creations, resembling the children from the era worrying about "who really got the treasured sword of Zhuge Si-Liang and the Devil Party" in the song "Childhood." After completing the straw knife, on the other side of the open space, staff members call everyone to join in making scarecrows with straw. Two pieces of straw form the upper body, while another piece serves as a skirt or pants, combined with accessories from the visitors—like floral hats, sunglasses, and branded bags—creating modern scarecrows that head off to this festive gathering in the fields, making it a lively scene. If enough people are present, they can ride on an ox cart through the streets or engage in various agricultural experiences, ensuring everyone thoroughly enjoys both the food and the fun of farming. Additionally, opposite the farm, the Jinxiu Hall was built by Banana Uncle's ancestor in 1882. Remarkably, all the timber used for this residence came from the same camphor tree, making it hard to imagine how large a tree it must have been to accomplish such a task. Interested visitors might consider visiting this ancient dwelling that holds both historical value and architectural beauty.
