Ceramic Water Filters

The project we came to work with involved the testing/preparing and delivering of ceramic water filters.

These filters are made with local clay and sawdust. Why sawdust? In order to kill any pathogens in the water, it has to flow through the ceramic filter at within a specific range of flow. In order to create that, sawdust is mixed with the clay, and when it is pressed into shape, it is fired in a kiln (which you can see in the background of the first photo). The sawdust burns off and leaves pore spaces big enough to hold water long enough for it to be in contact with the colloidal silver the filters are painted with, just long enough for the contact to kill the pathogens. The correct "recipe" of sawdust/clay is unique to each area and clay type.















Michelle and Brendan helped to paint some of the filters we used.

















We invited families to participate in the project. Half would receive filters in August of '07, half would receive them in May of '08. Forty women showed up initially, but by the time we left eighty had come and signed up.
















Michelle and another surveyor delivering filters.

















Michelle never missed a puppy...

en la casa

Some of my favorite memories were of the homes we were invited into. The first picture is of an abuelita, a grandmother who was warming her feet by the fire in her stove. She tells me she is blind, apologetically. Steam wafts up from the pot, her grandson's coloring book is beside her.


















We went to lunch in a local kitchen, and sat at a table in front of the oven. Hot soups and rice dishes simmered away on the top, fires from the stove warmed the always-chilly days. The soup was wonderful "carne" broth with rice, squash, a hunk of meat, and potatoes. Just the perfect portions and flavors...



















Michelle had the opportunity to try her hand at tortillas... not all of these are hers, and next to her are bowls of tamales with a sauce on top. Yummm.


















I was so proud that Michelle knew enough Spanish to play Spanish Scrabble... and put together many of the words!
























This is a view of a home where we took a survey, and you can see the steep mtn sides in the background.


Lastly, in Doña Juana's home, on the day we left for Antigua, I found her daughters baking bread... what a sight.. baby chicks on the floor and enough bread set out to rise it would feed the family and likely be some to sell...

de colores

Everywhere we looked we could see the juxtaposition of color, in some of the most amazing places.

For instance, the cemetery... overlooking the town, and with sheep!