Marvelous Mud

As I was mucking about in the garden, wearing my new wellies, I started thinking about mud. Slippery, sloppy, marvelous mud. This time of year, it seems that mud is everywhere, not just in the garden. And by everywhere, I mean to include my kitchen floor.

When you think about it, mud really is just about everywhere, with the exception, perhaps, of the North and South Poles. Mud is what you get when you mix dirt and water. If you’ve got both of these things, mud is inevitable.

With mud being so plentiful, it’s no wonder that it gets used for everything from adobe to art work. Mud has been a part of the human condition forever. It’s also a resource that we share with all living things.

Prehistoric people left evidence of their existence in mud. Human footprints recently found in Tanzania are estimated to be between 5,000 to 19,000 years old. In Tennessee, cavers found ancient drawings in mud on the walls of what is now known as Mud Glyph Cave.

Mud is still used in artistic ways today. Japanese artist Yusuke Asai creates incredible murals using mud. Some artists use dirt to colour their paints...mud paints. Pottery is made from clay, a form of mud. Kids create art in mud and with mud every time it rains or when the sprinkler gets left on too long.

Mud is not just for aesthetics. People have used mud in construction since prehistoric times. Mud bricks, called adobe, are air dried in molds. Straw is sometimes added to the mud mixture to provide additional stability to the finished bricks. Fired bricks are sometimes made from clay, a form of mud. Banco or ferey is a type of brick made with mud and grain husks. The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali is a Unesco World Heritage Site that is made from banco bricks. Mud is also used like plaster to cover walls. Mudcrete, a blend of mud and concrete, is sometimes used to build roads.

Mud is also used for recreational purposes. Mudding is a popular Motorsport activity and runners can participate in mud runs. There’s also mud wrestling for those so inclined.

How about a mud bath? Pelotherapy, or the therapeutic use of mud, has been used for thousands of years as a way to relieve arthritic pain. Some mud bathers actually lie in a tub of mud. Others smear the mud all over their bodies. I don't think that I could sit in a tub of mud, but rubbing mud on my sore knees or soaking my tired feet in mud sounds like something I just might like to try. If you travel, you might run across one of the mud baths recommended by American Express.

You don't have to go far to enjoy a mud mask. You can find prepared mud masks in the cosmetic section of many department stores or you can mix up something at home from a package. If you are the adventurous type, you could even give a made from scratch recipe a try. Your face will feel clean, smooth and rejuvenated.

You have probably heard at least one of the many versions of the jazz tune "Mississippi Mud" or perhaps Brad Paisley's "Mud on the Tires". And then, of course, there was McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, the blues musician often referred to as the father of modern Chicago blues. Mud is in the title or lyrics of many popular songs.

Mud has made its way into our daily conversations in the form of figurative language. That’s as clear as mud. Here’s mud in your eye. Don’t be a stick in the mud. My name is mud. As happy as a pig in mud.

Pigs are not the only animals that like or use mud. Just like people, some animals, like birds and wasps, use mud to build their homes. Animals that wallow in mud, like pigs and elephants, do so, in part, because it’s a comfort behaviour that contributes to their wellbeing. Sounds like a visit to the spa to me.

It turns out that mud pies aren't just for playtime. Geophagia is the practice of eating mud or clay. While it sometimes has psychiatric implications, it is not uncommon for people who are living in poverty to eat dirt or mud. Some forms of clay, such as bentonite or kaolin are also used as digestive aids or as the base for some medicines. There are, however, risks associated with eating dirt or mud and it is generally not considered a safe practice. That being said, I highly recommend a large slice of Mississippi Mud pie. Consuming Mississippi Mud pie would not be considered a form of geophagia. Check out one of these awesome recipes at Epicurious or The Food Network.

Since 2009 we have been able to celebrate Marvelous Mud with International Mud Day. This year's celebration takes place June 29th. If you're interested in celebrating, check out some of the suggested activities at Kodo Kids or Artful Adventures. Or maybe you could just enjoy a mud mask. Either way, don't be a stick in the mud. Take some time to enjoy Marvelous Mud. Here's mud in your eye!


🔍To return to the main page, please click on the banner at the top of this page or click on this link: Cupola Corner Blog

 

You may view references here: Marvelous Mud References