What's that rustling

Whenever you walk out into the grove at the moment there is an almighty scurrying as these lizards dive for cover in the roots of the olives and elsewhere.

Olive harvest 2014

The time of the olive harvest is fast approaching. The olives are starting to change colour from their lime green to a ducky red and will end up a deep plumy red colour when fully ripe.

The traditional time to start picking here in Umbria is 'dopo i Santi', or after All Saints Day on the 1st November. However, our olio nouvo festival in Trevi (www.festivol.eu) is on the 1st and 2nd November so we will need to start picking before All Saints Day so we can have some oil for the festival. So I think we will be starting around the 22nd October. #olivepicking #oliveharvest

Health benefits of olive oil

Researches at Illinois University have found that olive oil may be beneficial in individuals with heart failure. This is on top of olive oil:-

helping reduce LDL cholesterol

being rich in antioxidents

can help decrease blood pressure

helps reduce obesity

You've gotta like the stuff haven't you. Get hold of some today at www.casa-margherita.com

Facts above are from Olive Oil News (http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-health-benefits)

The 2014 olive harvest

Things look ok don't they.

Olives are bi-annual croppers and last year was a very good year. So when an olive tree has a lot of fruit it does not put on much new growth. It is on this new growth that the following years olives will be borne. So when you have a good year like 2013 then the following year will not be as good.

This is where we are. Do not worry if you have adopted an olive tree from Casa Margherita, you will still receive your two litres of single estate extra virgin olive oil.

La tramonta stasera

We are very fortunate to live in Italy -  sometimes I don't believe those words (today in the post office for instance) but tonoght with this sunset I do.

Putting in order

I do like cutting the grass in the grove as it is one of those jobs where you are creating order where there was disorder which appeals to me. It is a bit like alphabetising your CD's or books -  both of which activities technology has made quasi redundant.

There is a great sense of satisfaction when all the grass is cut.


PS: I do not alphabetise my CD's or books. The grove thing is enough!

They are getting closer...

Took this photo today and you can see just one flower open. This was not in our grove but below us in the valley but very very soon the olives will be in full flower. All we need is a couple of days sunshine and ………….BANG!