Max and Norbert Geiselhart refine wood into charcoal on the Kohlplatte near Münzdorf in the Swabian Alb. A total of around 50 solid cubic meters of hardwood smolder in two kilns. The process takes 10 days. The charcoal burners are in constant use, spending day and night at the kilns in the forest.
The Geiselharts from Münzdorf have been practicing this old craft since 1868. Both Max and Norbert maintain the family custom, 23-year-old Max, as a young charcoal burner, already in the 6th generation. In former times the occupation of the charcoal burner was a lonely thing. Today it becomes an event. The interest in how to make charcoal is great and the charcoal burners have many helpers to assist them in setting up the charcoal kiln and "harvesting" the charcoal.
Traditionally, charcoal has always been made directly in the forest. This is because charcoal is many times lighter than freshly cut wood. This made it easier to transport. Without charcoal, it would never have been possible to extract metal from ores. Because it burns hotter than a normal wood fire.
IN THE VIDEO
Max Geiselhart, young charcoal burner and carpenter
Norbert Geiselhart, charcoal burner and pensioner
CREDITS
Author: Thomas Weber
Camera: Dirk Schwarz, Heiko Bokern
Sound: Samuel Filohn, Jonathan Utecht, Dorian Ostermann
Editing: Monika Agler
Narrator: Rolf Hüffer
Editing: Carmen Lustig
Producers: Monika Agler, Günter Moritz
A production of: teamWERK, Die Filmproduktion GmbH
Social media editing: Land und Leute RP online