Moving and grooving…

So yesterday I finally met with some farmers (they were actually urban gardeners) & had a really great time. It was a fantastic preliminary meeting, but I think this group won’t be particularly useful to me since they are located at the source of the spring-fed stream they draw from to irrigate their garden. We had a nice informal chat, while the women went through an elaborate coffee-making ceremony. Essentially, they first heat the coffee beans in a clay tray they put on a jiko (at least that’s what it’s called in Tanzania- a steel pot that is raised so air can flow underneath, with a clay pot resting inside with hot coals in it for cooking). Then they take the pan of smoking beans around so everyone in the room can take a whiff of the wonderful aroma. Next, the beans go into a mortar & pestle where they are pounded down into a semi-fine powder. Meanwhile, water is being brought to a boil in a beautiful traditional clay coffee pot. There is some sort of ceremonious element involving putting water into the cups, but by that point I was distracted by a bunch of kids demanding that I take their picture & another of the women showing off the wonderful handmade erbos (woven basket) & bolsas (purse- yup bolsa isn’t just purse in Spanish, but also in Amharic) she makes.

Have to run. More to come!