Charcoal burner for a day

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Be part of a family tradition of burning black gold

Roll up your sleeves with three generations of the Brinovec charcoal-making family, assemble and shape a pile and watch the wood in the pile turn into charcoal. Through the centuries-old tradition of burning charcoal, the "black gold", you will help preserve charcoal making as one of the oldest handicraft and cultural techniques in the world.

Around 100 charcoal burners in Slovenia are still involved in charcoal burning, which is listed in the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and together they make just over 500 tonnes of charcoal a year. Several farms in Dole pri Litiji are involved in charcoal burning, thus maintaining a long tradition. At the Brinovec charcoal farm, this tradition and knowledge is also passed on to the younger generations through teaching programmes for primary schools and by welcoming different age groups.

And if you think that charcoal-making is just a romantic notion of what life used to be like in the Slovenian countryside, you are mistaken. Today, charcoal is also used in the production of solar cells, for soil improvement, in the manufacture of water filters, in medicine, cosmetics and gastronomy.

The course of the experience:

• Arrival of participants, greeting by the hosts, feast with charcoal bread and aperitif and music.
• Presentation of the course of the experience.
• Presentation of the place, the homestead and charcoal-making, viewing of a short presentation film.
• Dressing up in protective gear for working on the site. The work is carried out by the participants, together with the charcoal-making family.
• Work on the pile, depending on the stage of the pile: stacking the pile (correct techniques of stacking the wood and lining it with logs, shaping the head of the pile), scratching the pile with grass and pine, topping or blackening the pile with earth, cooking in the pile (burning, heating, adding wood, making chimney holes to let the smoke out), breaking down the pile (cleaning the pile, breaking down the pile, packing the charcoal).
• In parallel with the work on the pile, charcoal goulash is prepared in a cauldron on an open fire (preparing the fire, preparing the vegetables and meat and cooking).
• Drawing with charcoal, playing with different wooden puzzles (children).
• Lunch – charcoal goulash, charcoal bread, potica with cracklings, local wine, local juices, water.

• On departure, participants decorate a paper bag, receive 1kg of charcoal burned for them by the previous group, which illustrates the bonding between charcoal burners.

Schedule: 4 hours, from March to October

Location: Oglarska domačija Brinovec, Slavina 1, 1273 Dole pri Litiji

Net price: EUR 150 / 2 persons

The experience includes:

• Refreshments with aperitif, homemade juice and charcoal bread, homemade cured meats, sausage, charcoal goulash, ocvirkovka, local wine.
• Presentation of the charcoal-making tradition.
• Work at the pile under the guidance of experienced charcoal burners of the Brinovec family.
• Preparation of charcoal goulash in a cauldron on an open hearth next to the pit.
• Drawing with charcoal.
• Lunch.

• Surprise gift.

Particulars: Comfortable clothing and hiking shoes are recommended. The provider will provide all necessary protective equipment. Guests are also provided with water for washing.

Find out more about the experience

Razvojni center Srca Slovenije
Kidričeva c.1
1270 Litija
+386 1 896 27 10
info@razvoj.si

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