In Germany's Harz Mountains, brothers Immo and Sascha Feldmer continue the centuries-old tradition of charcoal burning using earthen kilns. They produce around 40 tons of beech wood charcoal annually, primarily selling it for barbecues, and have expanded their business to include a museum, store, and restaurant.
The Feldmer brothers' efforts highlight the struggle to maintain traditional crafts in the face of modern industrialization and changing economic landscapes, preserving a piece of regional history and a unique production method.
In the Harz Mountains of Germany, brothers Immo and Sascha Feldmer are dedicated to preserving the ancient craft of charcoal burning. Using traditional earthen kilns, a method practiced for over a thousand years in the region, they carefully convert beech wood into charcoal. This dense wood is ideal for creating the high temperatures necessary for smelting ore, a historical use for charcoal in the Harz mining industry.
Today, with mining no longer prevalent, the Feldmers produce approximately 40 tons of charcoal annually, primarily selling it for barbecue use. They emphasize that their charcoal is made from pure beech wood, distinguishing it from cheaper imported varieties often made from mixed or waste wood. To sustain the business and keep the tradition alive, the brothers have diversified by opening a museum dedicated to charcoal burning, a small store, and a restaurant that serves local specialties grilled over their own charcoal.
The craft of charcoal burning has largely died out in Germany, with only a few practitioners remaining. The Feldmers hope that their children will continue the family business, ensuring the preservation of this historic trade.