Wall Calendar 2026 "Women in Peatlands"

Calendar 2026 and pen

Size 51 x 30 cm, high quality print

Kindly provided by the Latvian National Committee of the IPS

There are things you do simply because they have to be done - not because they’re easy, rewarding, or even noticed. And then there are those projects that no one asks for, that are not strictly necessary, yet something deep inside whispers that they must be brought to life.

This calendar, “Women in Peatlands,” is one of those projects.

It is about us - women who work in the harsh, raw environments of peatlands and peat extraction areas. These are masculine landscapes in every sense - physically demanding, technically complex, and historically dominated by men. For us, the girls in peatlands, it is both a challenge and a calling to be here.

In this calendar, we wear white men’s shirts - a symbol of masculinity that both shelters and restricts. Sometimes that masculine framework gives us structure and protection; other times, it confines us, forcing us to hide parts of ourselves. We learn to tone down our emotions, our sensitivity, even our beauty - just to avoid being misunderstood.

I entered the peat industry in 2007. When I organized my first Baltic Peat Producers Forum, there were about eighty men - and only a handful of women. Today, things have changed. Women now work on the boards of international organizations such as IPS, GME, and RPP, and their presence at peat industry events grows each year. Still, I feel this invisible line - between being seen as professional and being seen as feminine.

This calendar is not made for men, but for us - women - to honor our journey, our resilience, and our femininity. My hope is that it inspires every woman working in a demanding, masculine world not to lose herself - not to silence her softness, creativity, or beauty for the sake of fitting in. I know I don’t fit. And this project doesn’t either. And I’m perfectly fine with that.

This project didn’t come easily - yet a few brave and beautifully fearless colleagues joined me. Thank you, girls: Anna-Helena Purre, Alise Rozenberga, Kristel Veersalu, Hele Nurmesalu, Lelde Ķelpiņafor sharing this calendar journey with me.

This project mostly was possible thanks to the sensitive and professional work of Dace Blūma, whose eye, empathy, and calm presence created a safe space for every woman in front of the camera.

Maybe this will be a one-time project - a unique expression of this moment. Or maybe it’s just the beginning, leading toward new portraits, new stories - perhaps even including men, too.

Let’s see where 2026 takes us…

This project would not have been possible without the support of these men and companies: Elva E.P.T. AS, SIA Baltem, SIA BaltBio, Kalloveen BvbA, SIA ETEPEK, Logitec Plus BV. And of course the International Peatland Society and Latvian National Peatland Society.

Ilze Ozola, Latvia