In a storm in the Vistula lagoon near the Baltic coast of Poland, a special harvester is cutting reeds to be exported throughout Europe for use in traditional and sustainable thatched roofs. ..
“We are building reed roofs from dawn,” said Lizard Zagarski, owner of a reed farm in a village in northern Jagodono near the city of El Bragg.
“Where there are waterways and fields of reeds, reeds have been used to cover roofs because of their excellent insulation, which means they are of high quality and inexpensive,” he told AFP.
“But for years, they were somewhat forgotten as roofing materials-misidentified as poverty. The work of reed roofers has virtually disappeared since the 1950s. “
However, reeds not only provide excellent natural insulation, but are also extremely durable.
“We have seen the reeds used on Swedish roofs almost centuries ago. If the reeds are used in the right way, under normal circumstances, the roof will be 50 years old, as long as it is maintained regularly. That should continue, “said Zagalski.
Before using the reeds on the roof, they should be 1 year old, straight and thin.
Three people are needed to work on the kilometers of harvesters on the banks of the Vistula River lagoon.
One worker drives, another worker collects ready-made bundles, and a third loads them. Upon arriving at the warehouse, the reeds are sorted and immediately sent to the customer.
Like other sectors, the reed industry has seen considerable competition from China.
“There was a time when Chinese reeds hijacked and destroyed the European market,” Zagarski said.
“Some of my colleagues couldn’t stand the competition.”
Today, Poland has up to 10 reed farms.
Most of the products go abroad. Zagalski exports his reeds to Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
In addition to their longevity, they are also 100% environmentally friendly and biodegradable.
“When it’s time to remove the reeds from the roof, all you have to do is take the reeds to the field, bury them in the ground and recycle them,” said Zagarski.
“I don’t think anyone is thinking about how to recycle the materials we use in the magnificent roofs we make today. That will definitely cause major problems.”
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