Sweet Potato Uncle's Kiln Introduction
Leaving the fictional depiction of the Central Plains fields, kiln baking is actually quite popular in the rural areas of Taiwan. In the past, after the autumn harvest, kiln baking activities became lively. On one hand, farmers had more leisure time after the harvest, and once the rice was collected, they only needed to loosen the soil with a plow, dig out the harder clods to dry, and the solid clods could be used to build kilns. Although the standard of living in the past didn't always allow for earthen oven chicken, roasting sweet potatoes and corn was always an important recreational activity for rural children. Nowadays, it seems that children in modern society hardly have any experience with kiln baking, and probably very few have even touched mud. Fortunately, Hsinchu County, which emphasizes leisure agriculture, has several farms where kiln baking can be experienced, allowing the elderly to relive their childhood memories and the younger generation to get close to the land, creating their own kiln baking experiences. When searching "kiln baking" on Google, Fenshuibopo Kiln in Beipu appears at the top of the page. Indeed, Fenshuibopo Kiln at Bamboo Language Tea House in Beipu is widely praised not only for its long history but also for its well-facilitated and attentive services. Many visitors have shared their kiln baking experiences on their websites, which is why it ranks prominently in search engines. Beipu Bamboo Language Tea House is located in Nampu Village in Beipu Township. If you drive south along Provincial Highway 3, after passing through the bustling old street community and Daping Creek, you arrive at the leisurely and picturesque Nampu Village. Nampu Village is known as the Golden Water Township; with community collaboration, the irrigation ditches here have been cleaned and repaired, providing a continuous supply of fresh water for the fields. Thus, whether it is rice, citrus, or vegetables, the harvest is excellent. After passing the Centennial Bridge (Nampu Bridge) built after the centenary of the Republic, proceed along the farm road. Depending on the season, you can see different crops along the way. After a fun crop identification contest, you then arrive at Fenshuibopo Kiln. Fenshuibopo is based on a real person. He is an elder farmer who has lived his entire life in the area and built this leisure farm from scratch. Although his son has taken over now, you can still often see him helping out at the farm, whether it's making rice cakes or tending to the kiln, warmly greeting guests without reserve. One of the advantages of visiting Fenshuibopo Kiln is that the materials are already prepared, and the kiln is half-completed. Visitors just need to finish building the earthen oven, watching the flames during the process, and once they put the food in and seal the kiln, they don't have to stay by the oven all the time and can participate in other farming activities on the farm. One thing that is definitely abundant in the countryside is straw. At first glance, when the farm staff brought out the straw weaving tools, visitors shook their heads and sighed, "This is too difficult!" "I can't do it!" But as the staff brought out two pieces of straw, enticing visitors to follow along step by step, elders around eighty years old and children six or seven years old all focused intently on their work, with staff readily assisting anyone who fell behind. The seemingly complex straw knife can actually be made by everyone in just half an hour. The children happily compared their creations, resembling the children from the era who worried about "who would get that treasure sword" from the song "Childhood." After making the straw knives, over in another area, the staff encouraged everyone to join in making scarecrows. Using two pieces of straw, one for the upper body and one for the skirt or pants, along with their own accessories—such as flower hats, sunglasses, and designer bags—modern scarecrows were all ready for a lively banquet in the fields. If there are enough people, visitors might even ride on an ox cart to explore the streets or participate in farming experience challenges, definitely ensuring everyone enjoys the delights of agriculture while savoring delicious food. Additionally, directly across from the farm is the Jinxiutang, built by Fenshuibopo's ancestor in 1882. It is remarkable that all the wood used for this house came from the same camphor tree, making it hard to imagine how large a tree it must have been to complete such a task. Interested visitors might as well take the opportunity to visit this historic and architecturally beautiful old house.
