Turf Cutting

In rural Ireland, turf is an important fuel resource for many families. These days modern methods of peat cutting can very damaging to bog habitats particularly when carried out on an industrial scale. But even on smaller scales, modern turf cutting machines are being used more and more often, and the impact of these isn’t positive. The picture below shows rows of machine cut turf – sometimes called sausage turf.

Machine cut turf

Even when modern machines cut the turf, it is still footed by hand. Footing involves stacking the individual sods so that they dry. Dried turf is then put in stacks till people are ready to bring it home.

Footed turf drying

Dried turf stack

Post inspired by this weeks one a week’s photo challenge – Modern.

Machine cut turf