Sunday, February 8, 2015

The Threshing Floor

The Littles and I made our way over to a neighbor’s has he told us that it was the day to thresh his teff (staple grain used to make injera).

We’ve watched the process from a distance, never up close and with a person explaining each step.

The farmer combines a team of horses (one horse from himself and then borrowed four from other farmers). The horses necks are tied together and they are driven in a circle. The extra men use a pitchfork (a sharpened Y shaped branch) and throw the grain into the hair and grow the circle. The horses are allowed out a bit more. 

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When they have sufficiently threshed the wheat, it is thrown into the air when it is windy and the chaff is blown away.

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This horse was throwing a fit, completely exhausted so she was removed.

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The girls learn more about nursing mothers.

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And then find a small child to tote around.

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The circle is large now

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Another horse is exhausted

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The Littles leave and play in the pasture

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We didn’t make it through the whole process. It can take a day and I had lunch to make. 

While Yeshuas was working, he asked, “So, if you don’t do it like this in America, how do you thresh your grain?”. I smiled. “Umm…big machines.” He thought that sounded like a good idea.

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And then I have to drag the girls away from all the fun they are having. The kids told us that we could come back anytime.

We want to be a part of where we live. pray we could continue to faithfully pursue friendships and we would be welcomed and in authentic, reciprocal relationships.

 

2 comments:

Todd ~ Teresa said...

It's so interesting to see what life is around you. Thanks for consistently (when internet allows) sharing.

sarah.flyingkites said...

VERY interesting!!