Skorn Shucker
Skorn Shucking was once the most common and valued profession on Arasram. The very life of the colony depended on the ability to clean and prepare the Aras Grass for processing into various food products. Shucking the Skorn is a complicated process due to the natural defense of the plant.
To thrive in the harsh desert environment, the plant evolved a toughened skin to retain moisture drawn from the ground. The leaves were thin and capable of pulling moisture straight from the air, but grew strong sharp spines to protect them from predators. Moisture was the most coveted resource for survival amongst all the flora and fauna of Arasram.
As the population grew and travelers from other planets discovered this small surviving populace, the Skorn crop was less of a necessity for survival and processing the plant fell out of favor. It was still absolutely necessary for the survival of the settlement, but in a different way. The popped variety, Granatskorn, was very popular amongst the travelers and grew into Arasram’s principal export. The food was often the most traded product for new technologies and goods from other planets.
Shucking the Skorn was very unpopular, and no one wanted to do the job due to at-work injuries caused by handling the unprocessed crop. It was a nasty affair, and the people grew to avoid talking or thinking about it. The Skorn Shuckers Union grew in power and eventually took over other processes in the production of trade goods, but Shucking never came back into favor.
There are movements to automate the process but the stubborn toughness of the plant has thus far proved difficult for machines to handle without obliterating the final product. The attempt at automation is never-ending as no one wants to continue shucking by hand, but it’s still a required essential for the survival of the Aramsker.
To thrive in the harsh desert environment, the plant evolved a toughened skin to retain moisture drawn from the ground. The leaves were thin and capable of pulling moisture straight from the air, but grew strong sharp spines to protect them from predators. Moisture was the most coveted resource for survival amongst all the flora and fauna of Arasram.
As the population grew and travelers from other planets discovered this small surviving populace, the Skorn crop was less of a necessity for survival and processing the plant fell out of favor. It was still absolutely necessary for the survival of the settlement, but in a different way. The popped variety, Granatskorn, was very popular amongst the travelers and grew into Arasram’s principal export. The food was often the most traded product for new technologies and goods from other planets.
Shucking the Skorn was very unpopular, and no one wanted to do the job due to at-work injuries caused by handling the unprocessed crop. It was a nasty affair, and the people grew to avoid talking or thinking about it. The Skorn Shuckers Union grew in power and eventually took over other processes in the production of trade goods, but Shucking never came back into favor.
There are movements to automate the process but the stubborn toughness of the plant has thus far proved difficult for machines to handle without obliterating the final product. The attempt at automation is never-ending as no one wants to continue shucking by hand, but it’s still a required essential for the survival of the Aramsker.
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