In a German forest, 2 brothers keep the ancient tradition of charcoal burning alive

HASSELFELDE, Germany (AP) — Immo Feldmer carefully tipped smoldering charcoal into a tall mound of earth to kick off the ancient tradition of coal burning.

The inside of the mound was tightly stacked with beech wood which smolders for weeks until it's been turned into charcoal — a craft that's been practiced in the Harz mountain region in eastern Germany for hundreds of years.

“We are making charcoal in traditional earthen kilns, just as it was done here in the Harz Mountains over 1,000 years ago,” Feldmer told The Associated Press in a recent interview as he stood between the mounds in the middle of the Harz forest near the small town of Hasselfelde.

Feldmer and his brother Sascha took over the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus business of producing charcoal from their father. They also have a handful of workers as the smoldering wood inside the mounds needs to be attended to and carefully watched day and night so it won't start catching fire and burn down to useless ashes.

Once covered in earth, the beech wood — which is known for its high density and the high temperatures it creates once it's been turned into charcoal — burns from top to bottom with the help of air holes. The charcoal is then swept clean of soil, and when it has cooled down, it's packed into 10-kilogram (22-pound) bags for sale.

Charcoal production was essential for mining ore in the Harz Mountains. To extract valuable metals such as silver, lead, copper, and zinc from the hard rock, the ore was crushed and then smelted in a furnace using intense heat. The extremely high temperatures required could only be achieved using charcoal.

Over the centuries, hundreds of families in the Harz region earned their living as charcoal burners. These days ore is no longer mined there and only a few coal burners are left in Germany. The Feldmers mostly sell their charcoal to people using it for barbecues at home.

“Our charcoal is, first and foremost, made from pure beech wood,” Feldmer said, adding that most of the charcoal sold at hardware stores in the country is imported and made of “mixed woods, scrap wood, and waste wood so it can be produced cheaply.”

As Feldmer and his brother would not be able to live from the coal burning business alone — they produce around 40 tons annually — they've also opened a museum about the history of coal burning, a small store and a restaurant where guests can get local specialties including steaks grilled over homemade birch charcoal.

Though the craft of char burning has essentially died out in Germany, Feldmer hopes that his family will keep the tradition alive.

“Of course, we hope ... that our business here will be taken over by our children, that it will continue to operate, and that the traditional craft of charcoal burning will be preserved here," he said.

Immo Feldmer uses a pole as he stands on a mound of earth at his family-run, traditional charcoal production site near Hasselfelde in Germany's Harz forest, late Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sascha Feldmer holds fresh charcoal at his his family-run, traditional production site near Hasselfelde in Germany's Harz forest, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Brothers Immo and Sascha Feldmer work at their family-run, traditional charcoal production site near Hasselfelde in Germany's Harz forest, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Immo Feldmer uses a pole to ventilate a mound of earth at his family-run, traditional charcoal production site near Hasselfelde in Germany's Harz forest, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Brothers Immo and Sascha Feldmer put charcoal into paper bags after weighing it at their traditional production site near Hasselfelde in Germany's Harz, Germany, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

TOKOROZAWA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 27, 2026--

SEIBU LIONS, INC. (Head Office: Tokorozawa, Saitama; President & CEO: Tsuyoshi Okumura) is pleased to announce that Indian pitcher Akshay More has signed with the club as a development player for the 2026 season as part of the organization's Global Strategy initiative.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260721918127/en/

This marks the first time an Indian player has signed a professional contract with a Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) club, representing an important milestone for both the Lions and the continued global growth of baseball.

With a 194-cm, 88-kg frame, More possesses outstanding athleticism and delivers from a smooth, repeatable motion. He features a lively fastball that reaches the high 140s km/h, complemented by a sharp forkball. During the club's tryout in June, Lions scouts were highly impressed by his long-term upside. Although he has only six years of baseball experience, his sincere attitude toward the game and commitment to continuous improvement were key factors in the club's decision to sign him as a development player.

Launched in November 2025, the Seibu Lions Global Strategy is designed to identify and develop international talent with the potential to succeed in NPB while expanding the club's global player pipeline. Building on the club's long-standing expertise in player development, the Lions aim not only to strengthen the organization but also to contribute to the continued growth of baseball around the world. More's profile is provided below.

1. Player Profile
Name: Akshay More
Date of Birth: December 4, 2003 (Age 22)
Height / Weight: 194 cm / 88 kg
Nationality: India
Education
• Shri Narayandas Ramdas High School and Junior College
• Lovely Professional University
Position: Pitcher
Throws / Bats: Right / Right
Uniform Number: 146
Professional Experience: —

Player Comment
"I am truly grateful to the Seibu Lions for giving me this incredible opportunity.
I will continue to work hard every day, learn from my teammates and coaches, and do everything I can to contribute to the team's success.
My goal is to become a player our fans can be proud of, and I look forward to growing both as a player and as a person with humility and dedication.
I can't wait to meet everyone soon."

Comment from Koji Hiroike
Executive Director of Baseball Operations
Playing baseball in Japan has always been More’s dream. He uses his height to create exceptional extension. His fastball tops out at 150 km/h, and he features a solid repertoire of offspeed pitches, including a sinker, splitter, changeup, and curveball.
More is an outstanding athlete who finished runner-up at India’s national judo championships. We have also been captivated by his integrity and character.
After performing well in Baseball United—the first professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia—he showed great future promise at our tryout in June, which led us to sign him to a developmental contract.
We hope he continues to grow with the Lions and becomes a beacon of hope for baseball players in India.

Akshay More