Peat was taken from the marsh in early summer, and hung to dry on racks. When the peat was dry, it was shredded to pieces in a peat mill and strewn in the animals’ stalls. The peat would soak up the moisture and mix with the animal droppings. The mixture was then used as fertilizer on the fields. When the manure basement was empty, it was common to spread a thick layer of peat in the bottom.