It's That Time Again

Ever since I have lived in the South of Spain, I have been harvesting olives, which are then pressed for there oil. Every year, bar last year, when there were hardly any olives on the trees. Not enough to warrant getting helpers in to help. I would love to have my own piece of land over here, but I don't, so I tend to help other people on their land with the harvest in exchange from some Oil. For 7 years, I lived on a piece of land that had some beautiful old olive trees, they were hundred's of years old. I looked after that piece of land, in exchange for being able to park my home on there. Every winter, I a long with a little team, would harvest the olives over 4 days. 50% of the oil went to the owners of the land and the rest was divided between all of us that took part. I always ended up with enough oil to last me the year. The oil was the best I have ever tasted.

Then I had to move, because the owners sold the land due to Brexit and the complications that it created for those who lived between here and the U.K. After that, I helped some friends on their land, once again in exchange for some oil. The most Oil I got was 90 litres, which was for quite a few days, after harvesting from 4 different properties. Which meant I was also able to sell some of it, later on . I really enjoy the work, it's quite physical and demanding, especially if the trees are big. I am happy to climb up any tree, as long as I know I can get down safely and it's not two windy. But if it's windy, then it's not a good time to harvest.

We place nets around the tree, ready to collect the olives that we knock down from the tree. If the branches are low, you can just pick them with your hands, which is pretty chill. It's the least physical part of the job, but if they are higher, you need to use a large stick or piece of bamboo to knock them down. I always give thanks and say sorry to each tree, before I have to knock the olives from it's branches. I'm not really a huge fan of hitting trees, so it's important to me, that I do that. Also it's really important, to give something back after your harvest. Feeding the trees is a wonderful way to do, just that. Seasoned goat or horse manure, is what I like to use, it's best if it is a year old. So the nutrients are not too rich for the tree.

This week, I was helping a friend of mine, whom I already work for. She has some beautiful olive trees in her garden. Before I got to work harvesting, I went and had a quick look at the veg garden which I take care of, to see how the seedlings were doing, that I had planted a few days previously. I have also been adding manure to some of the beds and then mulching them with some straw. This is where I found the beauty (which you can see in the picture above) just chilling in the mulch. I have never seen a caterpillar like that before. It was quite big, with one horn in the middle of it's head. I reckon it must be a so too be moth? It was super cool and looked quite prehistoric.

The Olive harvest continues tomorrow, after a few days break. I am looking forward to being amongst these beautiful trees again, following such an ancient practice, that helps to keep me connected to the land.