B'LAAN COOKING IN FIREWOOD......ALMAGA DI LIFU IN B'LAAN LANGUAGE

TRADITIONAL STOVE OF HIGHLAND B'LAAN

.....................HIGHLAND B'LAAN, FIREWOOD IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR COOKING AND HEATING FOR ALMOST ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN FULO BATO. FIREWOOD IS OFTEN SOURCED FROM THE INDIGENOUS FOREST AS DRIED OR DEADWOOD. INDIGENOUS FOREST WHERE TREE BY PRODUCT SUCH AS PRUNED BRANCHES FROM FOREST OR FALLEN PIECES OF WOOD ARE COLLECTED. THIS INVOLVES SPENDING AT LEAST ONE DAY EACH WEEK TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE TO THE FOREST AND CARRYING HEAVY LOADS OF FIREWOOD ON THEIR BACK OR HEADS. YOUNG CHILDREN INVOLVES IN FIREWOOD COLLECTION OFTEN MISS EDUCATION. WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME IN THE KITCHEN, DEPEND ON FIREWOOD IN COOKING FOOD FOR THE MEALS. B'LAAN WOMEN COOK ON A TRADITIONAL STOVE, A THREE LARGE STONES WITH HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION AND UNCONTROLLED FIRE. CUT AND DRIED FIREWOOD, CONTINUES TO DO SO TODAY..........FIREWOOD HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL TOOL FOR HUMANS TO LIVE IN THE MOUNTAIN.................