Making Bricks

Bricks are a primary building material in this area.  Every structure has a framework of bricks.  Consequently, during the dry season, the process of making bricks is to be seen everywhere.  It seems to be an annual money making activity for those who have land suitable for manufacturing bricks.  It starts with carrying water and then mixing it with the soil to a mud pie texture using an African hoe.  Then they scoop it up with their hands and plop it into a wooden mold, then empty it out on the ground to dry.  After several days in the sun, the bricks are accumulated and stacked carefully  into the form of a firing kiln.  A fire is built in the holes prepared at the bottom of the kiln and is burned for two days.  The heat from the firing process hardens the bricks from which the kiln is made.  After the whole pile cools, the bricks are ready to sell or to be used for construction.

This brick making project was at Paradise Beach (Dickson's)

Mixing the soil with water.

Forming the bricks in the wooden mold.

Dumping the bricks out of the mold.

Beginning again.

The bricks dry in the sun for several days.
The framework you see is the beginnings of a shelter for rain protection just in case it rains.

The Elders had a service project one morning and helped make some bricks.

They didn't last very long.

The real crew.

Putting them in piles after they are dry to make room for more to dry. 

Building the kiln.

A pile of bricks, made into a kiln and is ready for the fire.

This kiln has been fired.  The holes have been plugged to hold in the heat.  While the kiln is firing, mud is plastered on the outside, sealing all the cracks to force the heat up through the pile to the top.  Dead grass is piled  on top and when it catches fire, they know the firing is finished.

Waiting for the kiln to cool.