They are not fancy but better for the echo system
We all know the consequence of using plastic less or more - there are so many campaigns going on to not use plastic and use only natural materials that would easily recycle. Even recently I have seen brands like Addidas, Nike are making shoes from recycled plastic to reduce the plastic foot print. But when it comes to personal use, we are more fascinated towards the attractive look from plastic containers. Usually going to big shops like home depo you will see some elegantly designed containers priced very heavily but made of plastic. Very few realize the impact of that and prefer not to use them and try to find out some natural by-product that can meet the requirement. In bigger cities even its difficult to find out stores that would sell these natural products, but thankfully, we get something very nearby. And me and my family, prefer these over plastic products. We even like the look of these products more than plastic - having some unique aesthetic look.
As I wrote in my last post, there were some traders bringing the bamboo products and I went later to explore them. Usually, the price offered are competitive and cheap because many traders come. But this time, since there were few, I felt the price was a bit high - but still it is worth the buy. Before I show you what I bought, let me take you through the collections.
A hat below - I have seen villagers wearing this - it is waterproof - means its made in such a way that water will not flow inside.
Flower baskets - Better to take them while plucking flower than use plastic containers - often I see people use plastic polythene - but does it not look much better ?
Various types of containers with vibrant combination of colors and some plain ones with the bamboo look - they are very lightweight, won't break or tear - solid work there. Look at those broom - often used in villages but we have got better broom than than which is also natural. Still this is stronger and can be used for outdoors.
How about the above container ? Does it not look very beautiful ? I would have got this one, had it not been a bigger one. And see those small containers below and those hand fans. Remember the cyclones ? No power for 15 days that too in hot summer - only these could help us sleep - I remember, when we were child, each of us would have one. We would swing this and not know when we get asleep. We always keep 3-4 at home today.
The big container (a stone inside) below has a specific purpose - they have holes to filter out the small pebbles in paddy - used when people fry the paddy to get puffed rice. The other ones are to filter out water in washing the paddy before drying them. I have used them when we were making our own flattened rice - something I plan to do again - the taste is way different than what you get from market because of made by machines.
And these flattened ones are for every day use - literally you can use for most of the stuffs - keep something to dry in sunlight - keep something washed to drain the water. But it has a special purpose - to eliminate all the unnecessary things by swinging in air - of course need some special skills - I cannot do, but most of the ladies including my wife knows them 😀
The small containers are also used for multi purpose - wash the fish and keep in them - the below ones is specially for fish.
Some flower pots and meet some old entrepreneurs - earlier, the ones that were selling these were making it themselves - now these old ladies are buying from other places and selling though they know the skill.
The one in the above two pictures is very special - it is the most costly product in the entire market because its used to keep the paddy bunch that is used in worshiping Goddess Laxmi on Thursdays of this holy month. It is believed to be very valuable so they are kept in these closed boxes and taken out every year. The bigger one above was quoted to be 600/- and the smaller one half.
Met this man from a nearby village - more than 70 - fit and rides a cycle every day - explained me a lot about these cultures. And here is how the paddy bunch is looked - got a picture today at a shop in my locality.
And now see what I bought - the one that is tied behind the scooty is used to transport soil and other stuffs. Need some skills to make sure, they are woven using the outer side of bamboo plates so that they are stronger. Three of them would last for 3-4 years. I would have got more, had I have more space to bring them.
You can see them being used every day. And my mother is very instrumental in not using plastic - she is accustomed with all of these. My daughter just loved these tiny containers that she will use to keep her rangoli - may be she carries the same gene.
And when these tears out, we just throw them in the corner for the termites to recycle them into nature. Easy, isn't it ? Would you prefer to use these natural products or prefer plastic ?
By the way, the second day of chadhakhai, went well with Chickens. My son 