OLives and other stuff !!

[tbbr]

On our plot are a couple of negleted olive trees which did fruit last year.

How realistic is it to get edible oil from these. and to preserve the olives ?

We also had a fig tree and almond ( although what the builders have left we have a wait a couple of weeks to find out ).

Is it really worth planting citrus fruits ( we are told they can be high maintainence ).

What about peaches/nectarines etc.

We want to make as much of the climatic benefits as we can.

PS claim copywrite to the title of the book we may never get round to writing

[martin]

I had 28 olive trees once..it was actually cheaper to let them fall on the ground than spend 3 or 4 days hand picking, transport to the factory, return to get oil. when you see the way olive orchards are planted here they are just "peasant " style..compared to italy/spain where there are vast orchards and a machine can come and pick all the olive from one tree in 7 seconds

the only thing worth growing here is carobs, no irrigation reqd and a good cash crop

all other crops here just grow for pleasure, even with oranges - one english man near silves who had three hundred orange trees said his return didnt even pay for the water

as one portuguese man told me here, they are not farmers here,just pickers of what nature has provided

[Lesley Jean]

For advice on how to prepare as well as pick Olives go to this site: www.internationaloliveoil.org/oliveworld_re_olives.asp

[martin]

you might like to read this recent article on growing things here in portugal
http://www.observatoriodoalgarve.com/cn ... ticia=7786

[bifas 1st darling!]

If the olives are the green ones crack them with a stone or cut them with a knife, let them soak covered in water until it doesn't taste bitter, changing every two days. Put them in a large clay pot and cover with water adding salt (lots), garlic, oregano and bay, leave for a couple of weeks. Then eat them!! The balck ones are done the same way except you don't have to cut them.

[biffa]

Once you have done the olives do you want to crack a bucket of almonds I have got? I know you have plenty of time on your hands

[cember]

Whoever first started eating olives must have been pretty desperate

[biffa]

Yeah, makes you wonder how they found out doesn't it?!