The Bog

What is The Bog?? People ask me that all the time and this is the explanation that my mother gave me…

The bog is old ass land that’s like 3,000 years old.  Its like swampy land…and people cut the nasty mud, it then is stacked and dried and it turns into “turf” which is then burned like we would burn wood or coal.

This is the turf stacked and drying.  Back in the day the turn would be cut by hand…now-a-days they have a machine come in and do it. But it has to be stacked by hand. Once its dry (which takes sometimes weeks depending on the weather!) it has to be bagged.  After being bagged its transported home usually via tractor!

 

The days of being a kid in the bog with my grandfather were so fun…all I ever cared about was riding in the tractor, not a fan of the actual work!  haha  I only went a handful of times BUT hearing my mother and aunts talk about the bog is hilarious. The Bog is a place that all irish people have been to…well I should rephrase that…all country irish people.  Now a days a lot of people aren’t relying on turf like they used to. Like my grandmother actually…shes converted to all oil heating so she has no use for the bog or the turf anymore.  This bog is my grandfathers land (he’s passed away now) so my cousin Alan has taken to managing it. Its hard work…and he uses the turf for his home heating.  Its kinda cute to see how proud of it he is!    Speaking of using turf…I LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of burning turf!!  It has a distinct fragrance…can bring a girl to tears.

Here is Owen stacking his bit of turf….

And Ella stacking hers…

Uncle Alan explaining stuff to our curious Owen…cute

Of course my dirty girl LOVED digging in the mud…shes so gross.

 

Our kiddos enjoying their time in the BOG!

 

The history from these parts of the country are pretty cool.  People have done some HARD work to help keep their families warm.  If they didn’t get a good batch of turf during the summer, they could potentially freeze that winter.  Weather is key…good summers makes bog work easier!! Yosh liked listening to Alan talk about the process, how old its been in our family, etc.  I was proud of Alan…he’s become “The grown-up”…so weird.  I just don’t understand how people identify their bog. There aren’t signs posted or anything…you “just know”…weird right? haha

You see…how do you tell who’s is who’s?? Wouldn’t that suck to go to someone else’s bog AND do half their work for them before realizing you’re at the wrong place. haha oh geez.
 

My mom used smuggle turf home in her suitcases…I think I might have to do that next trip!