Firewood Women

Cooking with wood of course is an old habit, maybe just as old as human being itself. Since fire appeared to be a part of human life, human started cooking since then, and wood is the only fuel known. Wood would have to be the only fuel for thousands of years, long before human beings invented oil and gas fuel.

Later, after oil fuel introduced, the way of cooking changed. People started using kerosene stove. Then gas stoves that is fueled by gas, and electric stoves that use electric power come to use even later.

Changes from traditional to modern way of life make firewood cooking is no more necessary. Using firewood produces smoke that can make the kitchen a sooty black.  Charcoal and wood ash left by firewood make the kitchen dirty, which of course not popular for people live in fancy houses in cities, let alone in five star-apartments.

Even in country sides people are now reluctant to use firewood to cook for the reasons as above. Cooking with firewood is a country style, which is unmodern and is identical to poverty. For the sake of prestige, some villagers prefer to use kerosene stove to firewood hearth.

But lately, kerosene stoves are no longer cheaper because of the soaring price of that petroleum. And in line with this, the government launches a conversion program, to change kerosene to gas. People who previously used kerosene stoves are encouraged to switch to using gas stoves. Gas stove is cheaper and more practical.

But some people stay traumatized. Gas stoves are often disastrous. Many news about gas stove explosion that reared injuries and even death to people are heard on TV.

Unlike kerosene stove, using a gas stove needs an extra care. If the hose pipe leaks, it can explode. This happens often, and becomes a vex issue among people.

Careless people are not compatible with the system of gas stove that requires precision. Fear of disaster reared by gas stove is always there.

And sure enough, the trauma continues. Some people choose to keep using kerosene stoves for security reasons, although lately the price of kerosene soared beyond reach.

Some people, especially rural people, choose to stand for firewood. Beside it’s cheap price, wood is most secure. Some people even get firewood for free.

In Krui, West Lampung, Indonesia, many housewives knock around the jungles to collect sticks of firewood for cooking as the price of kerosene is skyrocketing,  and as gas stove is suss and isn’t so practical.***