Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Olive Harvest
Once a year around October it is time for the olive harvest. The quantity and quality of the harvest is said to alternate every year from poor to good. Many families have their own trees, sometimes more for
cultural reasons, sometimes as a secondary business.
Interrupted by many breaks to drink tea and coffee, the method of harvesting remains unchanged for millenia: Blankets are spread under the trees and people start to pick the olives manually from the twigs. The kids climb up the tree and ladders are u
sed to reach the furthest branches. When no more olives are visible, the sheets are used as bags for the olives and carried to the place for sorting: Either eating or oil production. Most farmers do not have an own press, but sell their olives to a local producer.
Fro
m my own experience I can tell you that it is fun for one day, although quite dusty and tiresome because of the sun. It is also a kind of family reunion, as everybody comes home to the village to help! Farmers also use to go to the universities to ask for volunteers. Some students who do not have to help their families volunteer as they get credit hours from the university.
And of course, politics also interferes: Some trees are very close to settlements and then there are often fights and even shootings, as the settlers try to disturb the harvest.
cultural reasons, sometimes as a secondary business.Interrupted by many breaks to drink tea and coffee, the method of harvesting remains unchanged for millenia: Blankets are spread under the trees and people start to pick the olives manually from the twigs. The kids climb up the tree and ladders are u
sed to reach the furthest branches. When no more olives are visible, the sheets are used as bags for the olives and carried to the place for sorting: Either eating or oil production. Most farmers do not have an own press, but sell their olives to a local producer.Fro
m my own experience I can tell you that it is fun for one day, although quite dusty and tiresome because of the sun. It is also a kind of family reunion, as everybody comes home to the village to help! Farmers also use to go to the universities to ask for volunteers. Some students who do not have to help their families volunteer as they get credit hours from the university.And of course, politics also interferes: Some trees are very close to settlements and then there are often fights and even shootings, as the settlers try to disturb the harvest.
