History

Peat cutting - a journey through time

Peat cutting is the process of harvesting peat according to ancient, almost extinct tradition. Peat is an organic, combustible soil material originating from incompletely decomposed plants in wetlands. In addition to heat production, it is used, although less frequently, as a fertilizer(mit z US, mit s UK) and as a building material.

Nowadays, world-wide attempts are being made to stop peat extraction, since its exploitation irreversibly destroys the peatlands.

Hand-mining

In 1818 the peat bog of Schrems was divided among 54 landlords, who extracted peat for heating, sphagnum and to be used as litter by hand ("peat digging"). The workers stood on the area to be excavated and removed the upper, plant-covered layer with their spades. Then they started cutting the peat layers into small brick-shaped segments using a special short-handled, sharp, spade-like tool. These peat bricks were thrown out and stored one on top of the other in a pyramid shape called "Torfkastl". The peat was dried outdoors or in sheds. After three or four weeks, the top bricks were harvested, the rest was turned and stacked again. Thus the brick weight of five kilograms was reduced to less than a sixth of the original after drying.

Machine-mining

Later, peat machines were used to obtain raw material for the production of pressed peat, pedal peat or spreading peat and also to be used as  peat litter and sphagnum for fertilization. From 1887 to the 1980s, peat factories were processing peat in Schrems. For this purpose, the drainage of the peatlands was strongly promoted and even diesel pumps were used. After all, peat mining was no longer profitable. Today the area is protected as a nature conservation area but still called “Torfstich” by the locals.