Cutting the Grass

I was cutting our grass this morning, following my walk-along lawn mower, and reflecting that this expression ‘cutting the grass’ has a very different meaning in rural Tanzania, where ABCDreams is doing its work.

It is the women who have to cut the grass (very tall grass), and they must do it EVERY DAY in the heat and after long hikes to find it.

A small scythe, or machete is used which means hours of bent over swings of this tool. Then the grass is tied up into huge sheaves to be carried back to the homestead on their heads to feed the cow, or goat. Banana plant stalks and firewood are also carried on the head as in this photograph.