When we first took over the garden at Les Cypres ( in 2006) we picked 19 Kilos of Olives and were greeted at the Olive Oil mill with some scepticism to our contibution to the villages Annual Olive Harvest.
However by 2009 and repeated in 2010 we grow this, together with Olives from our own garden to 248 Kilos. By now we were on the A list - well maybe B list!
It is well known that aftera few productive years the trees rest to rebuild their strength and so last year whilst disspointed it was no surprise that our harvest dropped to just 48 Kilos.
And then in February we had one of the coldest snaps in 25 years, minus 16 at night, a high of minus 6 by day, which took it's toll on the trees. A hard pruning followed in Spring.
And so this year it is more hunt the Olive! Normally we make quite an event of the Olive picking weekend with friends helping rewarded by lunch and plentiful quantities of rose!
But this year, Karen has been laid up with food poisoning so was not on top form to cook,
and the Olives were conspicious by their abscence!
Lin , formally a gite client, now cat sitter signed up for the olive picking experience!
As did Den her husband - they have been here for the last few weeks enjoying Autumn in Provence and helping us prepare for the winter season.
And here are our Olives, we shall find out tomorrow just how many - I fear our worst harvest.
But next year should be a cracker!!
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