Farming the olive groves

staceymarie123

Australia59 Posts

May 25 2014 05:18 GMT

Last weekend I went out to my boss' olive grove in a small town called Gingin. I hadn't been before and was dreading the trip because I don't really like the lady I work with. Anyways the trip was pretty awesome, I just bought a new swag and slept in the back of my boss' Land Cruiser. It was so cold at night and I found a mini scorpian. I met this guy while I was there who also liked Starcraft. He was really into it for a while but now owns his own business and doesn't have time any more.

So what did we do on said Olive farm? We helped people pick the olives, they would use rakes to scrape the olives off the trees and into these big shade cloth net things and then we would pick them up and empty them into a tub. I got incredibly filthy from the work and ended up falling out of a tree and getting the biggest bruise ever on my leg because I was wearing shorts... We also painted the floor of the shed with a sealer which took four people about three hours so that wasn't too bad. We went shooting at night which was super fun! I have shot cans and stuff before but never a kangaroo or anything. I got first go and I hit myself in the head with the recoil. I had the biggest egg on my forehead for about a week.

We went home Sunday and I vowed never to go again... Just kidding the work was fun and I met some French back packers and a cool dude who also liked starcraft. The girl from work was annoying so I didn't go back again this weekend :3 Below are some photos from the weekend, I didn't take many because I was usually busy but you get the idea

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The lovely country side on the way to the farm

The olive groves

We chased some emus on the moterbike

Random bathtub overlooking the valley

Burning some bushes

Chillin by the fire

The camp site

This weekend was a sad weekend... I went outside and one of my poor budgies had died during the night. I was ok up until I had to pick the poor thing up and bury him. I was so sad

The one on the right is the one who passed away

And because I feel like I should end with happy news I am going to be studying again! I am super excited :D My first two units which start on the 2nd of June are Ancient History type subjects so if you guys like Ancient History I will be sure to post some interesting facts and stories that I find. Also next weekend is a long weekend

Ok byeee for now!

pebble444

Italy2495 Posts

May 25 2014 11:31 GMT

Nice pictures. I worked many years in olive grooves sometimes cleaning the grass underneath the trees sometimes harvesting olives for olive oil. Its tuff work but very rewarding , as you get to spend all time in the open and with olive trees, some olive trees can be 4000 years old. The method you are using is the same one used here, the most common in italy. Aldo sometimes they use "electronic hands/shakers" that shake the tree speed up the process.
There you where working on flat land so it would make it even more enjoyable. And those trees seem also reasonably well kept (as in if the tree is just let grown it can reach 5&6 meeters of height and harvesting becomes much less cost-effective.
sorry to hear you got hurt do, hope it goes better next time.
This is a picture of the oldest known Italian olive tree (thought to be at least 4.200 years old)
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staceymarie123

Australia59 Posts

May 25 2014 12:58 GMT

That is what the French guys job was, to clean the branches and stuff under the trees. It was a fun weekend but I'm more of an office worker :3
That tree is amazing! My boss' ones are all pretty new

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51434 Posts

May 25 2014 22:57 GMT

Dat bath tub view doe!!!!!
Nice blog thanks for sharing!!!

Great when you meet people who like Starcraft or you have something to talk to them about which is starcraft as an ice breaker! Wooo esports!

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