I had a chance to harvest wild rice in the St. Louis River near Duluth recently for work. It wasn’t the first time I’d been ricing, but it’s the most memorable.
You can read about my little adventure on the Wisconsin Sea Grant blog through this link. Enjoy, and happy meandering!
Marie's Meanderings 
Great adventure. Next time, stay in the boat!
Ha ha – I’ll try!
You will try anything! Another adventure!
Yes, but I didn’t know it would be quite such an adventure when I signed up for it!
I can certainly understand wanting to experience the wild rice harvest. We have lost touch with (healthy, sustainable) food production in this country. I was fascinated to learn about the 1854 Treaty Authority. Had not heard of it before.
Ricing is a lot of work, but it’s so worth it. Especially when you don’t dump all the rice back into the river. 🙂
I learned three things today: 1. There is such a thing as harvesting wild rice in canoes. 2. That wild rice depends upon human intervention. 3. One must beware of getting the canoe pole stuck in the mud.
I suppose there isn’t much wild rice in Nebraska! Glad to have expanded (your already vast) knowledge base. Yes, and definitely do not get the pole stuck in the mud.
We mostly have corn and soybeans. 😁
The wild rice gods work in mysterious ways. 😄
Yes, and I think they have a sense of humor!
😅 Always!
What a great adventure, Marie! Too bad all your hard work ended up back in the water but at least you could laugh about it afterwards.
True – we laughed entirely too much. The guy who “rescued” us wasn’t sure we flipped over because we were having such a good time. 🙂
What an adventure! I didn’t know that wild rice had to be harvested in order to grow again.
Interesting article.
Yep, it’s one of those plants that does better if “disturbed” in some way. I suppose wind and rain would do it, too. But it’s nice to think that something natural needs us. It’s so good to see it coming back in the estuary!