Photo courtesy of Heifer International

Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom.

Rice Feeds the World

As one of the most widely consumed staple foods for many parts of the world, rice is incredibly important. The many varieties of this plant are grown all over the world and are vital to the food security of more than half of the world’s population. China and India account for nearly half the world’s rice production, according to a 2003 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Farmers in developing countries grow 95 percent of the world’s rice, and most rice is produced by smallholder farmers who own less than two and a half acres of land.

Water Buffaloes Help

Rice feeds the world, and water buffaloes help. These domesticated giants play a key role in families’ agricultural success. With the help of water buffaloes, farmers can plant up to five times more crops than they could by hand. These greater yields translate into more food, more income and more security.

In addition to working as draft animals, water buffaloes produce manure. A lot of it. The six tons a year that an adult water buffalo can create fertilize farm land. For families with a biogas stove, the methane gas can run stoves and eliminate the need for wood-burning stoves, which can lead to deforestation and smoke inhalation that can induce respiratory aliments.

If water buffaloes didn’t already help out farmers enough, the nutrient-rich milk they provide can improve children’s nutrition.

Rice can be used for a number of things around the house. In addition to the obvious use, as food, you can use it to a rice heating pad. The rice version is cord-free, low cost and reusable. You can heat these pads up in the microwave or alternatively cool them off in the freezer and apply them to soothe your aches.

Materials to make a rice heating pad:

Rice
A tube sock or baby pillow
Needle and thread
Dried lavender sprigs
Funnel (optional)

Determine what will form your pad. You can use a tube sock, baby pillow or sew your own pattern. There should be one open side to your pad. Pour the uncooked rice into the pad. Drop in a few sprigs of dried lavender if you wish. This addition will release a relaxing smell when heated, adding a little aromatherapy to the mix.

Photo courtesy of Coffeebreakwithlizandkate.com

Make sure not to fill the pad to the brim. You want to leave some space in the bag for the rice to move around so the pad can comfortably contour around your body. Next, sew the open end shut. Make sure you create a strong seam. You want to make it sturdy enough that rice won’t be able to slip through.

When you use it as a heating pad, don’t leave it in the microwave for longer than three minutes, and stay in the room. You don’t want it to overheat and start to smoke.

For more details about how to make a rice heating pad, read this article.

Give the gift of a water buffalo today, or check out our entire Gift Catalog.

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4 thoughts on “Make a Rice Heating Pad to Soothe Your Aches”

For those non sew’er….simply fill a large sock…clean of course…fill with your rice, flax seed, corn grits or whatever….even cherry pits work well!.
Then tie a knot to secure end closure….or hand sew it shut.
I’ve been making these for YEARS….I began using rice….the soft rounded pearl rice works best, can also use corn grit…but recently I discovered flax seed is much MUCH better
as it retians the heat much longer as each grain is encapcilated and the oily meat inside
holds the heat much longer….about 40 mins.
I use soft minky fleece fabric…sometimes I make them 20″ long by 4″ wide….I top sew
lenth wise on the finished “case”….make sure I leave space at the top or bottom where can
fill each channel with the seeds, rice or corn.
I find using a long funnel…i use an automotive funnel, the ones used to fill cars with oil. They’re about $5 each or less…makes filling the bags much easier, especially if making the long bags
most people like for their necks…like a collar around your neck.
I get flax seed at animal feed store, much cheaper…I buy 25 lb bags…each bag takes about 2 lbs or less…careful not to fill too much, leave room for seeds to move around inside to conform to ones body.
Must be careful when giving these bags to elderly or small children as it can be very hot, cause burns to sensitive skin.
I find great buys on fabric, fleece, velvet or courderoy from fabric stores remnant sections OR, thrift store finds….velvet or any material you like…make sure doesn’t have any metalic threads as it will react in microwave.
If you don’t have a microwave oven…put your bag inside crock pot….keep a few inside so can take one out…then have more when gets cold…give at least 12 hours or more to heat them.
Leave on high all night with lid secured closed….in morning will have nice warmy to send off
with loved ones!
Imgaine your Valentines sweety…will LOVE one of these instead of candy!
CAUTION!….WARNING….BEWARE…..ALERT….
These have a problem of getting stolen once they’re discovered as pefect way to heat frozen toes or bedtime incentives!
My grandkids would go to bed without question when they were promised a warmy if they get to bed without tantrums….any “Need drink water” gets their warmy taken away!
If you’d like me to sew one for you..
feel free to contact me!
cheryl
cherylsplace@cascadeaccess.com