Sweet Potato Uncle's Kiln Introduction
Leaving behind the literary portrayal of the Central Plains' fields, kiln activities are also quite popular in the rural areas of Taiwan. In the past, after the autumn harvest, kiln activities would thrive. On one hand, farming families had more leisure time after the harvest, and once the rice was harvested, they would simply till the soil and dry the harder clumps of clay, which could then be used to build kilns. Though living standards in the past did not always allow for clay oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was always an important recreational activity for rural children. Nowadays, children in society hardly have any experience with kilns, and there are probably few who have truly touched clay. Fortunately, in Hsinchu County, which emphasizes recreational agriculture, there are several farms where one can experience kiln baking, allowing older generations to relive their childhood experiences while younger generations can get close to the land and create their own kiln memories. Typing "kiln baking" into Google, the Ban Shu Bo Kiln in Beipu comes right to the top of the search results. Indeed, Beipu Bamboo Language Tea's Ban Shu Bo Kiln is not only historically rich but also well-regarded for its complete facilities and thoughtful service. Many tourists post their experiences of kiln baking on their own websites, which explains its prominent position in search engines. Beipu Bamboo Language Tea is located in Nanpu Village, Beipu Township. Driving south along National Highway 3, after passing the bustling old street settlement and Daping Creek, you arrive at Nanpu Village, which is tranquil, cozy, and filled with rural charm. Nanpu Village is known as the "Golden Water Town." With the cooperation of the community, the water channels here have been dredged and repaired so that they can continuously supply fresh water needed for the fields, ensuring great harvests of rice, citrus, and vegetables. After crossing the century-old 100th Anniversary Bridge (Nanpu Bridge), you continue along the farm roads. Depending on the season, you can see different crops along the way. After a round of crop identification contests, you arrive at the Ban Shu Bo Kiln. Ban Shu Bo is a real person. He is a local farmer who has spent his life working the land and established this leisure farm. Now that his son has taken over, visitors can still occasionally spot him helping out by pounding rice cakes or tending to the kiln fire, warmly greeting guests with great effort. One of the benefits of visiting the Ban Shu Bo Kiln is that the ingredients are already prepared, and the kiln is already partly set up. Tourists only need to help complete the partially constructed clay oven, supervise the flames during the process, and as soon as they seal the oven with the food inside, they don't have to keep watch over it but can participate in other agricultural activities on the farm. Straw is certainly abundant in the countryside. At first glance, when the farm staff takes out straw to weave a sickle, visitors shake their heads and sigh, “This is too difficult!” or “I can't do it!" But when they see staff pulling out two straws, guiding the visitors step by step, they find elderly men aged eighty and young children aged six or seven intently following along, and if anyone falls behind, staff members immediately assist. What appears to be a complex structure can actually be completed by everyone in just half an hour. The children cheerfully start to show off their creations, reminiscent of a time when they worried about "Zhuge Four and the Devil Party" competing for the sword in the song “Childhood.” After finishing the sickles, over on another patch of open ground, staff members are also gathering everyone to weave scarecrows. Two bundles of straw, one for the upper body and one for the skirt or pants, combined with accessories from visitors who wear flower hats, sunglasses, and carry designer bags, create modern versions of scarecrows, all attending this lively field feast. If there are enough participants, they can also ride on an ox cart around the streets or engage in farming experiential activities, allowing everyone to enjoy delicious food while fully experiencing the joys of farming. Additionally, across from the farm is the Jingxiu Hall, built by the ancestor of Ban Shu Bo’s clan in 1882. It is remarkable that all the wood used for this residence came from the same camphor tree, making it hard to imagine just how large the tree must have been to accomplish such a task. Interested visitors might want to check out this historical and architecturally beautiful old house.
