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Thursday, April 5, 2012

E for Efficient


During April, I'll be posting on the A-Z Blogging Challenge.
My theme is the Hunzas.
Today is E.....for Efficient

The Hunzakuts have survived in their small valley for over 2,000 years. All phases of life are well planned and organized so that 40,000 people can live efficiently on a land of crumbling rock.

Housing is limited and newly married couples live with the husband's family. Houses are made of rock and mud and are always 2 or 3 stories tall. Natural birth control is practiced, as after a woman has a baby, she sleeps on the woman's side of the house for 2 or 3 years.



The valley has no real soil, only a silt produced as run off from the glaciers. This silt is carried in buckets up the rocky mountains and deposited on terraced levels for crops.

Farming is thoroughly efficient as a terraced mountain may offer 30 to 50 levels of beautifully terraced gardens.
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20 comments:

  1. RiverApril 5, 2012 at 2:53 AM

    I'm impressed with their intensive terraced farming, but not so much with the carrying of buckets of silt. some sort of pulley system to get those buckets up and down would be a great idea.

    I read in the comments of yesterday that the Hunzas have now been introduced to sugar and other "western" nasties? Why would somebody do this instead of us copying them? Two generations from now, the Hunza lifestyle will be severely compromised. That is SUCH a shame.

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  2. Eat To LiveApril 5, 2012 at 3:08 AM

    This is perfect Manzi,
    I just started a garden club linky and I am going to add this link to it.

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  3. Mary AalgaardApril 5, 2012 at 5:17 AM

    I think there would be good and not so good aspects to living with your in-laws!

    Play off the Page

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  4. Old KittyApril 5, 2012 at 5:40 AM

    I like the natural birth control method used here! Yay! Take care
    x

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  5. AnonymousApril 5, 2012 at 5:42 AM

    What a sensible way to control population.....

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  6. Bish DenhamApril 5, 2012 at 6:04 AM

    Obviously they understand the limitations of their surrounds and *grow* accordingly. :)

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  7. sarah corbett morganApril 5, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    More fascinating material about these people. Love the photos, as well. I'll be back tomorrow wondering what F will bring. And X.... Oh my.

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  8. Pat HattApril 5, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    Very impressive at how they manage to live like that. If more of the world only used what they needed it be a better place indeed. Not sure I agree with their birth control method though..hahaha

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  9. Rubye JackApril 5, 2012 at 6:42 AM

    I would have never made it in this culture. :)

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  10. SuzeApril 5, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    'Housing is limited and newly married couples live with the husband's family.'

    This is surprising to me as in our own culture, if you're not going to leave the parents, it's usually the wife who doesn't. It's not atypical for newly married couples to live near the wife's parents' home.

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  11. IngerApril 5, 2012 at 8:21 AM

    This is fascinating and so much fun to learn about a people you knew so little about before.

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  12. Elizabeth Rose StantonApril 5, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    Fascinating series of posts! Re: the natural birth control--I think the Victorians did that, too ;)

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  13. Galen PearlApril 5, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    I love your theme! It blends your clever writing with some fascinating information! Thank you so much. This is shaping up to be a great month.

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  14. Zara H.April 5, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    What interesting theme you have choosen, dear Manzi! I am fascinated with the terrace agriculture; it's a hard work, but looks so beautiful!
    Your E was E-xcelent, looking forward to all other letters! ;)

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  15. Su-sieee! MacApril 5, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Efficient is the perfect description of the Hunzakuts culture and society. What's so ironic is that as a culture becomes more advanced, it loses its efficiency. Many of us forget that we all come from cultures that once upon a time lived as basic and efficientas the Hunzakuts. Thanks, Manzanita.

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  16. klahanieApril 5, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    I'm really impressed that you are doing such an informative theme. It seems that these efficient people are in tune with the fine balance of nature.
    All the best with this challenge that brings further awareness of the alphabet.
    With respect and happy writing, your way, Gary

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  17. JJApril 5, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    My wife could have made it on the crumbling rock, but not living with the husband's family.

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  18. Rob-bearApril 5, 2012 at 6:04 PM

    This is much fun, and quite informative.

    Thanks.

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  19. ChuckApril 5, 2012 at 7:14 PM

    Man these people work HARD. This is a great lesson in an obscure culture. I would have never learned about the Hunzas without this. Thanks!

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  20. anthony stemkeApril 5, 2012 at 7:23 PM

    These Hunzas are survivalists and have good ideas for their way of life, we could learn fron them (but won't).
    T^hanks for these posts, they are very interesting.

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