…is an edible delicacy found in certain northern waters of North America.
It is an aquatic grass that bears a seed which can be planted in ideal rivers and lakes but which also grows naturally in certain regions. The techniques of harvesting wild rice have been preserved by many indigenous peoples in Canada and the USA as it is a valuable, nutritious and light weight food that if dried properly, can be stored and eaten all year round. In Ontario the Anishinaabe people call this aquatic grass that bears an edible grain “manoomin” in their language known as Anishinaabemowin. It is harvested from mid September to the end of October. Ideally two people travel by canoe as one person handles the cedar knockers to bend the rice stalk toward the canoe and knocks the ripe rice into the canoe with the other knocker.
The second person uses a push pole to steer the canoe through the rice stalks which can be very thick. “Ricing” is done on rivers and lakes and often people who know the best ricing sites will portage with their canoes to get the rice. Once the canoe is full, the ricers return to shore and tip it over to collect the rice onto tarps. The rice is then dried, gently flipped over occasionally to prevent mold growth and later agitated to separate the husk from the grain. Traditionally this was done by “dancing” on it or by shaking and stirring it in large flat baskets. Dried wild rice can be stored for years. It is highly nutritious (high in protein, iron and magnesium) and is naturally organic.
At Chassagne Farm we are interested in promoting and preserving many natural ways of hunting and gathering foods in season and within reason. We have sourced two groups who harvest wild rice in northern Ontario. One uses traditional methods and is very focused on sharing their “Ricing” as a community- building venture while the other has made a more large scale financial commitment with the acquisition of modern harvesting, drying and agitating equipment, enabling them to hopefully earn much of their annual income by processing wild rice. We are proud to be able to partner with both as we add Ontario Wild Rice to our list of food products for sale.
