RICE, FROM HEAVEN? Calendar 2014 THE ORIGIN OF RICE CBM: Basmatirice on the Himalaya’s in the prehistory. Photo-shoot: Himalaya, Nepal, 2013 Rice, Oryza Sativa, is the plant species from the Grass family and the fruit thereof is also called rice. For the JANUARY 2014 majority of the world population, rice is the most important food, especially in the warmer regions. Rice week 1 2 3 4 5 is the basic food of the world population. The rice culture belongs to the oldest cultures in the world and constitutes the basis of all South and East-Asian forms of civilization. In Hinduism the creative Energy Gayatri m 6 13 20 27 elevates the human being with 8 powers above the other creatures. In one of her eight hands she has a bowl t 7 14 21 28 of rice. Apart from wheat, rice is the most cultivated corn crop world-wide. Rice is the source of carbohydrates w 1 8 15 22 29 and other healthy nutrients. In South-east Asia and Egypt, rice was cultivated for its nutritional value long before our era, among other things around 3500 BC in Northern Thailand. In the 15th century the plant was t 2 9 16 23 30 brought to Italy. Thereafter the Moors brought rice to Spain and Portugal and thereafter to South-America. v 3 10 17 24 31 Rice is also planted in Italy, Greece, Portugal, France, the United States and Australia, in short in all tropical s 4 11 18 25 countries. India and China jointly produce half of all rice on earth, mainly for own use. Thailand, Vietnam, the s 5 12 19 26 United States and India are the most important export countries of rice. 1 january: New Year’s Day RICE GENUS AND STRAINS Rice has approximately 25 marsh plant species, mostly with an overhanging plume of unifloral ears. The FEBRUARY 2014 flowers have six stamens. The two most important varieties are: the Japonica and the Indica. The Japonica week 5 6 7 8 9 straw is short and stiff with short, thick grains. The Indica straw is long and soft with long grains. Breed crossings yield a high production and ripen soon. There are almost 7000 varieties with growth periods of 80 to m 3 10 17 24 170 days. They grow in soils, along fresh and brackish water, dry or wet or marshes and irrigated soils in the t 4 11 18 25 (sub) tropics. In Suriname they are designated as Rice line 128, 130 etc... We call the rice varieties: Parboiled, w 5 12 19 26 Unpolished rice, White long grain, Long grain, Medium grain, Ketan, Basmati or royal rice (India, Pakistan), Wild rice and mix. Wet and dry cooking rice, Whole grains and broken rice; also sticky rice. The bulk of the rice is t 6 13 20 27 grinded and polished. With skin and seed removed, it arrives (among others from Suriname and India) at the f 7 14 21 28 world market as white rice or brown rice. Risotto (Italy), Wild rice is water grass seed (United States and Canada). s 1 8 15 22 Thai rice (Thailand and Vietnam). Botan rice (East Asia). The Japonica sticky rice known as lontong, ketan, sushi s 2 9 16 23 and dessert rice. The best varieties are designated as superfine, which indicates the length of the grain (> 6.4 mm). 25 february: Revolution Day Rice (Akshata) is a spiritual battery of the Primordial Soul Siva. A battery in which gods (energies) are invited to take a seat during ceremonies. For spiritual intervention. The cosmic wisdom at levels: Rig-, Yajur-, Saama- and Atharva Veda etc. disclose their secrets of the universe. ‘That, which is stationary, Vrihyaadeh of rice...’ (RV 2.31.5). The soul (Jiva or Kshara) is the battery in the humanbeing. An endless energy Diaspora. ‘(…) love for each other as boiling water mixes with rice to cook this, so you should live in peace!’ (AV 3401). Spiritual pollination. ‘Charged’ we enthuse and convince others. Birds use their colours, singing and their cleverness to conquer the heart of their female. Diligently performing an enchanting courtship display, which comes to an ecstatic climax when the couple walks over the water in perfect symmetry. ‘Threads (…) in rice water are soaked to make them thicker and more durable (…; Sutra).’ (RV 1.105.8). Painting canvas! The relationship Jiva-Siva (Agni/Energy) is eternal. ‘Rice, (…) a future sacrifice (Arataye) ‘for a demon’ and rataye or ‘Light’ for gods.’ (YV 11). Liberated: entirely charged, together we form an entity. ‘(...) if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with each other.’ (John 1:7). ‘And (…) He (Jesus) expelled many demons.’ (Mark 1:34). MARCH 2014 week 9 10 11 12 13 14 m 3 10 17 24 31 t 4 11 18 25 w 5 12 19 26 t 6 13 20 27 f 7 14 21 28 s 1 8 15 22 29 GRAIN, s 2 9 16 23 30 SPIRITUAL 17 march: Holi Phagwa CBM: Puja stage of rice stage of rice CBM: Puja (Rataye-Rangoli) devine energies. for India, Ashrama 2013 Photo-shoot: Jairam BATTERY RICE PLANT and ‘PLANTED’ IN RICE The rice plant becomes 0.6 to 1.8 m high with a substantial stooling capacity. It does not have rootstocks APRIL 2014 and has short growth duration. Most varieties are bound to a shallow water environment to which the plant week 14 15 16 17 18 is adjusted by numerous intercellular, continuing channels in stems and roots. Through this channel system the plant provides the roots with oxygen for the development, in the course of which they can live in a soil m 7 14 21 28 environment without oxygen (anaerobe). The leaves have a big, stem-comprising sheath. The inflorescence is t 1 8 15 22 29 a loose ear; in case of ripening of the grains (fruits) the ears bend in hanging position. w 2 9 16 23 30 In the cosmic science one talks of ‘Sacred rice’, this is rice with initiating Spiritual Energy which priests touch or throw with holy sayings during rituals (sacrifice and farewell services); adhesives of among other t 3 10 17 24 things greenhouse gasses. Idem in a 16-step sacrifice ceremony (Pudja), which enhances the willpower and f 4 11 18 25 perseverance during concentration and trance. We experience this as practical wealth and it cleanses the s 5 12 19 26 (inner) world: poeta minor to poeta major. Blessed rice meal after ritual ceremony is recognized as holy. Also s 6 13 20 27 the farewell ritual (Siddha with rice) ‘a positive deed’ is sacral. 18 april: Good Friday 20 april: 1st Easther 21 april: 2nd Easther Rice grows best on acid to poorly acid soils on seed-beds. The soil is mostly first thoroughly soaked (inundation) and then ploughed and harrowed. If necessary this is repeated to obtain the desired even mud layer, in which the rice roots can quickly develop. Rice varieties must be able to adjust to the climate. The optimal temperature is between 18 and 40 °C. Rice cannot withstand freezing weather. It is a very sun-loving crop. The rice needs a minimum of 1250 mm of rain per year during the growth season. For a complete cycle the total water gift is between 10 000 and 17 000 m3 per ha. The water may not stagnate at the rice fields. It may do RICE without water periodically. But the ear development needs much water. There are 2 planting methods: manual and mechanized. In a manual manner rice shoots (seedlings) are transplanted on the worked fields CULTIVATION after 4 to 6 weeks. In such manner the proceeds are more than with the mechanized agriculture in the course of which the sowing is done by machines or airplanes. MAY 2014 week 18 19 20 21 22 m 5 12 19 26 t 6 13 20 27 w 7 14 21 28 t 1 8 15 22 29 f 2 9 16 23 30 s 3 10 17 24 31 s 4 11 18 25 1 may: Labour Day A rice grain consists of Brown rice and the hull. Harvested rice with hull is called ‘crude’ or ‘paddy’ rice. The variety determines the length, width and thickness of the grain. The grain consists of endosperm (nutritional tissue) and seed and around that we have the coat (the aleuronic layer and the seed skin with pericarp). The outer layer of the grain is the husk/chaff. Unpolished rice has many fibres: healthy for the intestines and it gives a stuffed feeling. Cosmic science treats the dance king Nataraja/Siva, the Innovator. During THE BOWELS OF RICE his passionate dance in heaven beads of sweat fell on earth as rice grains (taanda). With Taandava music (drum or Damaru) he improvised the alphabet (Akshara). The creation is a sequence of sounds, pitches and sound length; a rhythmical music shape with a clear beginning and end. Taandava of anger and fierce emotion is the dramatic art for creation, preservation and innovation. But music is also an ingredient for dance, cheerfulness and cosiness. The Chinese lion dance symbolizes happiness and prosperity. The Argentine melodious Tango, of small casts to a very big one, is a sensual dance for two persons. Each type of dance is a form of creation. JUNE 2014 week 22 23 24 25 26 27 m 2 9 16 23 30 t 3 10 17 24 w 4 11 18 25 t 5 12 19 26 f 6 13 20 27 s 7 14 21 28 s 1 8 15 22 29 RICE UNITES THE NATIONS The United Nations (VN/FAO) and Earth Policy Institute are concerned about food scarcity and increasing food JULY 2014 prices.