Creating with Mud

I never knew that mud had so many uses! This creation has taken weeks to complete and to tell you the truth it wasn't until just recently that I understood its purpose. This is called a "gota" and is created for the purpose of storing large quantities of grains (tef, corn, wheat, etc) after the harvest. Or in the case of my landlord's family…this is the time of year when prices are lower so they purchase large quantities now so to avoid the high cost during the summer months.

As you can see, the gota started out as a circular slab of mud and straw and gradually got taller, and Taller, and TALLER! What's amazing is that each of the rings is removable. As the grain is used, a ring is removed to enable easier access. Ingenious! And you thought making mud pies was for kids! Ha…not here!




Aselef begins



The base is completed




Almost done




All finished. This thing is massive!




This gota is filled with TEF…the grain used to make injera.



Hapti's cousin, Maron, stands in front of 2 of her family's gotas. What you can't see is that this room is filled with gotas…probably 7-8 of them!