The Poultry Keeper

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject: Peat cutting (casting)

Although I've been married for 22 years, today was the first time I've watched my husband cast peats. As well as taking him food and drink, I took along my camera.

Old fuel and new - the oil terminal is in the background

Allez oop!

We took the dogs ...

Fungi:

Peat wall

How to:

debcat · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

thats what OH was doing today

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6622 Location: isle of lewis

you've just scared the living daylights out of my oh julia Wink

he's doing that next week normally my job but this year it's his well till he hurts his back Wink

and i have to do it Wink

lovely pics,you're very close to the beach

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

Not our peats but the dogs enjoyed the beach this afternoon. OH is cutting for a workmate who was injured in a fall before Christmas and badly damaged his knee. We don't have a chimney!

hoosier · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 3:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the pics! We saw some peat out in the fields in Ireland, but we have never seen anything like that close up.

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2045 Location: Shropshire

Oooh I have had a go at that at a friends spot in Sutherland, its hard work. The pics are fab. I love the smell of burning peat!

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2429 Location: Monmouthshire

Please would you photograph the tool used to cut the peat for this Southerner. I'm always interested in unfamiliar agricultural implements which are commonplace to those who use them.

debcat · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

there's a link to an article about them
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/Demand-for-peat-tools-on.4042662.jp

just going to take a pic

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

Be interesting to see if they are the same across the islands Deb - hubby's is back at the peat bank!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6622 Location: isle of lewis

on a sunday Wink

is yours stainless steel Cool

my 2 are iron

debcat · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject:

you have to bear in mind that mines not been used in years so it's slightly rusty, Oh has his own. I know they soak them in a butt of water for at least 3 days, will ask him why later

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 2429 Location: Monmouthshire

Thank you. Now I see how you get the even width, but it must take time to learn to cut, heave and drop where you want the turf.

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 653 Location: Carmarthenshire

Have seen this done in Ireland. I love the smell of a peat fire - ahhh, wonderful memories of sitting by a peat fire in an out of the way pub, drinking Guinness and listening to beatiful music and singing Very Happy

. I remember spending one Christmas in a B&B in Doolin and the owner showing me how to light a peat fire. Now we live in Wales we haven't been to Ireland for ages - must make time to go back.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6622 Location: isle of lewis

it's not the same apparently
i noticed that the peats that jaydee oh was cutting
are bigger than ours almost twice the lenght ,and we stack like a pack of cards , and it takes 2 here one to cut and one to throw ,
iona ilse apperently cuts the same as shetland
jessie who has been cutting for all here life was telling me this morning Wink

interesting conversation at 6 amjaydee any chance of a close your peat cutting iron Wink

debcat · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject:

OH is cutting tomorrow so going to take some pics - as long as his car makes it that far