People in the border area of Nghe An province invite each other to go into the forest to pick up 'heavenly gifts'
Dao Tho•November 3, 2023 16:29
(Baonghean.vn) - During the autumn months, many people in the villages of Nam Can commune (Ky Son) gather in the forest to pick chestnuts to eat and sell for money. This type of nut is considered a "heavenly gift" that nature has bestowed on the border land of Nghe An.
Clip: Dao ThoStarting from the 8th lunar month, in the forest of Noong De village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son), many people, especially women, go into the forest to pick up chestnuts that have fallen under the trees. According to the locals, there are many types of chestnut trees here and they grow all over the forests. Every autumn, the seeds ripen and fall down, and there are so many that they cannot be picked up. Photo: Dao ThoAncient chestnut trees 5-10 meters tall can produce dozens of kilograms of nuts. However, when they fall, the chestnuts are in a sealed bag with sharp thorns. These thorns are very painful when piercing the skin. Therefore, to pick up the chestnuts and bring them home, you have to be very skillful and careful. Photo: Dao ThoAccording to Ms. Ngan Thi May, in the early days of the season, the chestnuts were not ripe yet, so traders bought them at a fairly high price, about 25,000 VND/kg. However, when the chestnuts fell in large numbers, the price dropped, only 15,000-20,000 VND/kg. Therefore, although there were many chestnuts, the number of people going into the forest to collect them also decreased. Photo: Dao ThoTo pick up large, firm chestnuts, many people have to go into the bushes, not afraid of being attacked by leeches and mosquitoes. Photo: Dao Tho"We take advantage of our free days to pick up chestnuts to eat and sell. On a good day, we can pick up up to 15 kg, and on a bad day, we can pick up nearly 10 kg. Currently, the selling price per kg is 20,000 VND. In general, we have extra income. It's a blessing from the forest," said Ms. Cut Mother Thuong. Photo: Dao ThoAccording to our research, all the chestnuts collected by the people of Noong De village are purchased by traders. Because the quality of chestnuts here is firm and delicious, it is considered to be better than those in other places. Photo: Dao ThoAfter being picked, the chestnuts are washed in water. The ones that float to the surface of the water are wormy and damaged and must be discarded. People only take the firm ones that sink to the bottom of the water. Photo: Dao ThoChestnuts are dried before being eaten or sold to avoid mold and spoilage. Photo: Dao Tho
