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Organic Weavers Brush in Peguche Ecuador
Environmental Pride In Ecuador !
My adventures in Ecuador have taught me many things. There is one thing that stands out foremost and that is how much pride the Ecuadorians take in their work and the importance of not harming the environment to produce a product. The artists use natural dye’s made out of many products such as: ground bark, flower petals , shells of nuts, roots, berry’s, flower oils, beetroot and then they mix different products together to come up with the color they want and it’s all natural. The local indigenous peoples have fought off Oil Companies, Mining companies, logging , developers and sometimes their own greedy fellow Ecuadorians.
Most of the Ecuadorians live in harmony with nature and still believe in the importance of keeping Mother Earth happy. Today I visited a few families in Peguche Ecuador and then I’m off to Otavalo Ecuador. Otavalo is a huge marketplace for local artists, Peguche on the other hand is small by any standard. If you blink you have missed it. I met the most wonderful family Jose and his wife Mercedes weave scarves and blankets. The process was labor intensive and grueling on the body. This tiny little man has a small wooden loom that he peddles and pulls other levers to make the fabric go through the loom. When he is finished his wife takes the scarf and starts the brushing process. Mercedes has a brush that is made out of small and large cones almost like a pine cone but different. She brushes each scarf for 30 minutes until it is velvety soft. It’s a truly unbelievable sight to see and experience.
I asked Jose how he could weave for such a long time and he paused and said look. He took me by the shoulder and pointed toward the mountain and said the mountain gives him energy and inspires him. Who am I to disagree ! He said when he starts to get tired he looks to the top of Imbabura mountain and he gains more strength. His Shaman told him to do this to keep his strength up. I also believe in this strange power around the mountains in Ecuador. I will fill you in on that story at a later date.
I guess I do look like a giant to Jose. HO,HO HO Green Giant.
Jose was tickled that I showed so much interest in Ecuador and the process of weaving then a strange look came over his face and he pointed at me then the mountain and the translator told me that I was big like the mountain. I couldnt resist the photo op… Yes Im tall 6’5 but jeez ! he is so tiny- yes that’s it Im not big at all…
