Category Archives: Olives

Chipping (continued)

Joy of joys, we are still chipping branches. Have finished our land, and moved on to Tassos’ We have been offered so many people’s branches this year that we might still be going in May, which is a pretty daunting thought. Have to keep reminding ourselves of all the compost that it will make.

100415-011

[Doug the WWOOFer (spring 2010) posing with chipper]

20111010-008

Here’s a picture of last year’s chippings in October, with shiny new pigs on top. As you can see, the chippings have not done much over the summer (far too hot and dry), but the pigs have done amazing work and the pile has gone from 6 feet high to about 6 inches. Strongly recommend that everyone gets pigs to put on the compost heap. Outstanding result, and free bacon afterwards.

All we need now is a current picture of pigs and compost- must organise that.

Deep in the olive harvest

Not entirely possible to write a great deal, as all is chaos and confusion at the moment, i.e. the same procedure as every year.

A disappointing harvest from a quantity point of view – 16 sacks of olives pressed so far, from about 100 trees, giving us 135 kilos of oil. We are not planning a world cruise just yet.

20111123-011

The good news is that things have picked up in the last two days, with another 33 sacks at the press right now, and another 100 or so trees to go, so we might not have to buy extra olive oil for the kitchen this year.

20111123-002

The oil itself is really, really exciting – a vivid, day-glow green, and the taste outstanding (well, we would say that, obviously). The volunteer consensus this year is that it tastes of leaves, and olive oil.

20111123-043 

Speaking of volunteers, the WWOOFers have excelled themselves – long hard days with no end in sight, and still only enthusiasm and laughter and more hard work. We are suitably impressed.