HEVECO LTD.

The only Company that is producing "Block Cut Peat Moss" in Canada

Harvesting Block Cut Peat Moss is quite different than the vacuum process. Vacuum Harvesting takes place basically on the bog surface, while Block Cut removes a portion of the bog.

As you can see from the previous picture, the raw material is physically removed to dry, leaving a continuous trench.

The latter is accomplished with a block cutting machine,

Which cuts a section three foot wide and three feet deep out of the bog in block form. This three foot cut from the bog results in a very uniform cross section of the natural deposit of peat moss.

During the cutting process, the cutting machine displaces each row of blocks to enable air flow between blocks which is necessary for drying. These new blocks remain in the field over the winter. The cold and freezing will draw water from the blocks continuing the drying process.

In June or July, weather permitting, in the following year the latter block cut fields are revisited. To help the block to dry more completely, prior to harvesting they have to be repiled.

Did you notice the difference between the piles in the last two pictures? Workers repile the peat blocks cut in the last harvesting season into windrows for slow drying.

The blocks will dry for another 2 to 3 months before harvesting.

The blocks give up the natural water very slowly. The drying process for the peat blocks preserves to a maximum air and moisture holding capacities of the peat cells. These are benefits for Heco Mixes, which are manufactured from Block Cut Peat.

Harvesting of the dried blocks is done by a two row harvesting machine.

As this unit progresses down the windrows, it picks up the dried blocks. The harvested material is gathered in carts. Then hauled either to the winter pile or directly to the factory for processing

Tel.: 506-779-9277

E-Mail: heveco@nb.aibn.com

Fax: 506-779-8294

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