Olive stories
This week I’ve been loving reading the #olivestories coming out of CERES’ Olives to Oil.
Last weekend the harvest total passed 26 tons of olives with another 6 tons collected in Hobsons Bay that was taken up to Barfold Olives in Kyneton for pressing into oil.
This year around 2000 people picked enough olives to beat the previous harvest record by 20 tons!
The first oil pressing is back at the Fair Food warehouse and will be bottled and distributed in July.
The wonderful stories below have been put together by Olives to Oil project manager Merrin Layden with photos from Ana at Sol Foto.
Pippa & Mac (see above) collected their olives from a local park in Coburg and at home in Glenroy.
“We picked olives with a bigger group as part of one of our programs at the Carinya Society, a day service for adults with disabilities. We are going to use the oil in the kitchen there and send some home with the participants”
Cousins Tim, Tom & Pete collected from street trees in Fairfield & Alphington.
“You need to ask first. There are a lot of houses where people have moved out and the olives are no longer being used, so it’s worth asking.”
Lea & Sam picked their backyard tree together in Phillip island.
“Next year we will get the grandchildren to help pick them, they’re young and tall. We’ve been married for 57 years. The secret is to fight, but always coming back together.”
Elle, Shannon, Archie & Mabel picked olives in Coburg from two trees on their nature strip.
“We picked them yesterday with my aunties, uncles and my mum. The kids got all the low hanging ones and then just rolled around in the mud.”
Jen & Gary picked from 35 year old trees they inherited in their garden.
“There’s quite a few trees in our street but hardly anyone picks them, so they go to waste. Our neighbour Susie told us about today – she emailed the whole street to let us know there was a pressing happening.”
Salvadore, Cora & Michael picked from two large trees Salvadore planted many years ago. Their garden in Fawkner is home to figs, plums and even avocados.
“They grow in Melbourne, last year, 900 avocados!”
Cintia, Anthony & Olive picked olives in Moonee Ponds, Brunswick East & Northcote. The first thing Cintia is going to make with her oil is focaccia.
“Olive has a taste for her own species, she eats them off the ground!”
Olives to Oil will be back in May 2024.
Have a great long weekend
Chris
