I'm assuming you mean the compressd bales of peat. If the bale is completely dried out, I pour water into the bag and let it sit for a day or so to make breaking off chunks easier. Then I soak the chunks in a little water in a rubbermaid bin with a lid. The chunks soak up a ton of water before turning into total muck. You just need to get it moist and it will breakup easily.

I just take a chunk of the peat in my hand and run it back and forth on one of my screens I use for sifting soil. Kinda like using a cheese grater. Just make sure you are standing upwind if there is a breeze.

I break up and moisten enough to fill a 30 gallon plastic garbage can, which I use for storing it. When I need it I want it to be ready to use. It is only moist, not wet. Al

The fiasco I went through the other day just to get 1/2 cu ft was too much work! When I broke off pieces...the pieces then needed to be broken a lot more. It was hard to get the lumps out. Sounds like I should get some big pieces and briefly turn the hose on it to moisten...not soak??? thanks to all...