by cheri block
We know the Greek goddess Athena for her wisdom and courage. Owls, snakes, and olive trees are just three of the symbols that represent her. How appropriate, then, that the Judge’s olive orchard became a reality on Independence Day 2012 on land across our creek where owls who-who-who by night and where snakes hide among rock piles and cords of oak by day.
For those of you who-who have followed this blog for the last four years, you might remember that the Judge has been planning his orchard for many years.
Well! It’s in. Now let’s hope that the pollinators pollinate, the trees thrive, and the harvest produces a mild oil. Here’s to the Maurino, Frantoio, Leccino, and Arbequina (three Italian varietals and one Spanish) out across the creek, whose roots are now adjusting to the clay soil and pure water, to starry nights and a babbling brook, and whose very existence will provide tremendous diversion from the business of the day.
Here’s to Athena’s orchard.
Ah, La Dolce Vita!!!! La Vie est bon!!! Life is Good! Your olive grove postings inspired me to google “Ode to the Olive”…just to see what poetry or writings could deepen the satisfaction (and envy?) I felt with the postings of your sweet olive grove ….
I came across MFK Fisher’s Ode to the Olive” , seen in Travel & Leisure, 1976….and from there I became immersed in her writings of France, her loves of olives, and her life long tribute to cooking, food, eating, writing (blogging??!!) and “The Good Life” ….and from there to ordering her book, “A Stew or a Story: An Assortment of Short Works” (of which Ode to the Olive is one…). Although out of print, I found one online.
Which all set me to remembering walking around the Mission San Jose Catholic Church grounds throughout the late 60′s…and always looking at the old olive trees, and always having crushed olives all over our shoes….and how now the nuns have bottled up all that goodness and set off on their own course, selling local olive oil….and you are just up the hill(s) from them…now makes me want to google the history of olive trees in the Mission San Jose area ,,,,
Time to join “Googlers Anonymous”…
But in the meantime…..SALUTE’ !!!!
Thanks, Rosemary. Would you please report your findings here on this blog? Yes, those little Sisters of the Holy Family are selling lots of olive oil at their festival. Reminds me of the learning about medieval monks and how they got into the horse business for a prophet. Ooops. I meant profit.
I need to read Ode to the Olive. And is there an Ode to the Blister?
Congratulations on a major milestone and I hope you produce and award winning oil! (But most of all have fun doing it)
Thanks Tom. I think we just want to have fun (as you mention) and never have to bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party again…
Iassou, Cherri and Ron, may your trees prosper and provide abundant fruits and oil…in due time; be patient.
Coming from you with your Greek heritage, I will take this as a major blessing of the fruit!
While I reserve judgment on the foibles and fulminations of gods and goddesses, I am squarely and unequivocally in the pro-olive camp.
Oh good, W.k. It’s nice to be in the virtual company of someone who loves olive oil. And I hope you are well. I’ve missed your witty comments although my blogging is slowing down, as you may or may not have noticed.
Olives. Yum. So how are you gonna get the oil out of the olives? Is there a refinery attached to the orchard?
Ha! We understand that we can haul our harvest up to a place in Orland, Ca and they will press the fruit, or we can pay to have a portable press brought right to the olive trees. We’re just trying to get the drip system working properly, so first things first! I’ll mail you a bottle from the first harvest and being the foodie that you are, you can give us what I know will be an honest appraisal.
Deal!
We might be moving to this area: and I just saw this timely tidbit:
“Capay Valley – Olive Press Facility is under development. Building is up, County Road widen, and landscaping almost complete.
The Yolo County Planning Commission has approved a conditional use permit for Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, allowing the development of a state-of-the-art olive mill for the region’s farmers. Construction has began. The ground moved, building up and landscaping on its way to completion.
From what I understand the mill will be the first of its kind in the United States, it is being custom-manufactured in Italy and will feature the latest technology and will preserve the most flavor and the greatest health benefits, the milling process will allow minimal exposure to the air. This process will create a unique, premium extra virgin olive oil that will be as fresh as possible when bottled.
The new Yocha Dehe olive mill will enable olives grown by the Tribe and local farmers to be pressed quickly after harvest, preserving the freshness critical for creating premium olive oils. It will be interesting to watch this unravel…”
WHOOOOOOOHOOOOO! Such fun times are ahead…..
Is there any history of American Indians and olive oil production? All very interesting, you are right.
If there is not, well one would be in the process.