The Charcoal Kiln

The process of turning wood into charcoal is very old. This autumn you can visit the charcoal kiln that the homestead society Gålö Gärsar has made. The kiln will burn for around two weeks. To keep it burning you need to make small holes for air to get in and also repair any part of the kiln that slips. When the charcoal is ready the burning is extinguished by water and the kiln is then opened up. During this lengthy process the wood colliers live nearby in a typical charcoal hut as the kiln must be manned 24/7. On my visit on Saturday the well known singer/songwriter Susanne Alfvengren was performing for the many visitors and after her first session I walked over for a portrait and a few quick words. Every kiln has a name. The 2008 version was named after the then youngest person to live at the Gålö peninsula, a baby girl called Emma (Borg). The 2010 kiln was named after Inga-Britt (Borg) who is the oldest person living at Gålö. And she is actually Emma's great grandmother! The Borg family are involved in pretty much anything that happens at Gålö. They run the Stegsholm Farm that I have showed you here before. For the hungry there was collier sausage and coal buns! The black and white painting was made by the local artist Johnny Svensson ( whom you met last summer), and it shows the kiln from 2008. To see all my Charcoal Kiln related photos check out the slideshow.