Monday 8 November 2010

Olive Harvest


This weekend I spent helping my mother-in-law's aunt, Zia V, to harvest her olives. Zia V is an incredible lady and an inspiration. At 85 years old she manages her farm and does the same work as a woman half her age.




My job is mainly to arrange the huge nets under the trees to catch the olives as they fall. My husband and father-in-law use machines, a bit like vibrating rakes, to shake the olives from the tree and then I gather the olives in the nets and tip them into crates. My favourite part though is to climb up the trees to pick out any olives they've missed.


The olive harvest is one of my favourite times of the year here in Italy. This weekend was warm and sunny so it was great to be able to spend so much time out of doors especially surrounded by such beautiful countryside of rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards.


It's a sociable event. Friends and family come together to help out and enjoy gossiping as they work and then sharing a huge lunch together.

The work is extremely satisfying and the best part is that in a few weeks time we will be able to enjoy the delicious brand new olive oil. Can't wait!

Hope you all had a good weekend x x


15 comments:

Sarah B said...

I remember reading all about the olive trees in Italy in the book, "under the Tuscan sun". It sounds like very very rewarding work :) Zia V sounds like she's a superwoman!

Anonymous said...

Zia V sounds like a treasure and a real hard worker. It was so nice to have beautiful weather for most of the weekend. I can understand you being excited about the new olive oil. We don't have our own trees, but we are looking forward to buying some oil from a friend's father.

Razmataz said...

Oh how I would love to participate in an olive harvest. Earth to table. What a wholesome experience.

Unknown said...

Hi Sarah! I'm absolutely enchanted, your blog, you choices, your way of life...everything seems to me so beautiful! I'm glad you've chosen Italy to live...and I'm waiting for my oil too!
Hope you'll come and see me!
Kisses from Rome!
Laura@RicevereconStile

Loree said...

It must be amazing to be part of the olive harvest. I would love to be part of something like that one day.

Jill said...

I don't think I could be more jealous. :)

Audrey said...

I would love to share a day like that. Such an interesting experience! I like the name Zia :)

Sara Louise said...

This whole scene played out perfectly in my head x

LindyLouMac said...

The Olive Harvest is always fun but sadly this year ours has been a complete disaster. I love the way you have presented your family harvest in this post. The old country people are amazingly active here in Italy we find. It must be the lifestyle they have lived I suppose.

Olga said...

Thank you for posting. This is such a beautiful moments and these photos are so pretty!

dating diva said...

your blog is so pretty and your photos look so professional and beautiful!!!


xx,dee

Anonymous said...

That sounds heavenly! Your photos are absolutely stunning, they almost transported me there!
I would like the tree climbing best too...
Flick xo

Amanda said...

Sounds delightful! What fun to be involved and help out :)

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Hi Sarah .. this is one thing I have missed out on my visits to Italy , hopefully one day I will take part :-)

Signe said...

Love these pictures :)