Ceilidh showing me the solar and biolitic systems in use at Apulia grove.
During the weekend of May 7th and 8th, I stayed with Ceilidh and Charles at Apulia Grove. The olives are all ready for harvest and they were in dire need of help to them off the trees before they were lost to frost. So I packed the car and headed on down. Saturday saw me with a small plastic rake in hand stripping olives from the trees, along with the Stolk family, Charles, Ceilidh and Scott.
JJ and I working in the grove
The pickers hard at work
At the end of a fantastic day filled with a lot of banter, laughter and a song or two shared with the Stolk children, we all gathered around a drum fire to cook a scrumptious dinner and reflect on a day that brought new friends together and taught me something about the olive industry.
On Sunday, we arose to a wonderful breakfast of bacon and eggs, great coffee and a beautiful morning of sunshine. Scott was first up and had been out shooting for rabbits. He did manage to get one but doesn't have the skin and dress skills. So, I took knife to hand and did the deed for him. One rabbit skun, cleaned and ready to cook, as well as one happy shooter. After this was done, Ceilidh, Charles and I got busy with day 2 of the olive harvest and pressing. Charles was back in the grove with family members who arrived to help, while Ceilidh and I were in the processing shed dealing with the olives harvested the day before. I got to see Big Gen running as I strained to hear what was said over her loud belly grumbles. Then Ceilidh introduced me to Frank the olive processing machine, so called because he does things his own way. The next stage I was introduced to was filling the filtering tank with the pressed oil and then draining it into storage drums.
Big Gen
Frank the processing machine
The filtering tank
By days end, I felt very impressed with all I had learned from such wonderful people, thankyou Charles and Ceilidh for this opportunity and wonderful hospitality.
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