Our First Olive Harvest -Part1

Well we didn't think we'd have lot of olives, as it's the first productive olive season we've had
since their heavy pruning last year, but we spent all day Sunday picking (just the two of us as we didn't think we needed the help!) until we ran out of daylight.

First you knock out the olives with a long stick (sort of beat/slide the stick along the stems so it knocks the olives off onto the sheets below). Then you pick out and discard all the stems (a few leaves don't matter as they are taken out at the press)

We took 114 kilos to the press this morning (which should give us about a litre of extra virgin olive oil per 10kilos of olives- so around 11litres hopefully). We have approximately another 40kilos to pick. Next year should be alot more productive (so we'll definately accept the help next time!)

The nice lady at the press was kind enough to give us a tour of the place and show us how they make the oil- the extraction machine, various filters and tanks.

We go back in two days to see what percentage oil was in our olives and how much oil we can get back.

There is an option to pay the press a percentage of your olives in exchange for the cost of the pressing, but as our harvest is so small this year we have chosen to pay the press costs and keep all our oil.

It's all very exciting!!

Autumn is such a beautiful time here. We have had alot of rain which has greened everything up again and filled our well. The oaks are all taking on a golden hue, the 'azeitonas' are plump with fat olives, and the low sun reflects off the rocks.

We have been busy doing some clearing and tidying up the vegie patch for next year (and putting in loads of horse manure- he's hoping next year will be even more productive!)

I just wanted to share a few images of what it's like here at the moment, as my lovely brother Mike would say- 'Stunning'!! xx

Twigs and Mushrooms!

The new pup has settled in nicely- her name is Twiggy!

Thea and her mum Anne Dorthe have been staying with us this past week. Dorthe is a wild mushroom expert and has been helping us identify the local mushroom life- really interesting- our hoard has included Parasol mushrooms, Boletes (including a magnificent Cep!), Field mushrooms and Black Chanterelle.

(do not try this at home unless are lucky enough to have 'Madam Mushroom' to advise you!)