Peat

The lands surrounding the Morass of Dorghulal are made up of peat fields that the local farmers harvest for both personal use and to sell to the people of Nedev.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Peat, when first cut out of the ground, is a rich organic material that smells wet and dank. It has the ability to hold a lot of water trapped within its many layers of decomposing material, and so it feels spongey at harvest. As it dries, it shrinks to about two-thirds of its original size and about one-fifth its original weight.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Peat is used primarily as a fuel source for cooking and heating homes. It is also used industrially in tanning leather, and in dying cloth. Also, farmers will often use peat as stall or pen ground cover as the dried peat absorbs animal droppings which can then be aged and spread over fields as fertilzer the following spring.

Industrial Use

Because dried peat is so good at absorbing liquids, it has found some specialty uses in stables, taverns and inns, as well as in breweries, wineries and distilleries to help clean up spills, or animal droppings.

Refinement

Peat is harvested from the bogs by cutting out large bales from the ground with long peat knives. The peat is then transported to a location where the peat is dried for a few weeks before the bales are cut into smaller bricks, and then dried some more. Once the bricks have gone through the secondary drying, they are ready for use or for sale.

Manufacturing & Products

Peat is usually sold in bricks of about 4 inches by 4 inches by 8 inches. This sized brick of peat will burn for about an hour and provide enough heat to cook a simple, quick meal. Bales of peat are also sold for the more industrial usages.

Hazards

Because peat is so flammable, it can be a dangerous material to have lying around. Most settlements where peat is available require that the peat be stored away from any open flames, and only in small quantities. Peat wil continue to smoulder even when buried and can burst back into flames once re-exposed to air.

Type

Organic