Comments on: Preparing for the olive harvest http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/ Two American expat city boys on 20 acres with an olive grove in New Zealand Thu, 17 May 2012 02:47:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Moon Over Martinborough http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-2263 Wed, 12 May 2010 07:57:32 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-2263 Hi Tracey, Here are some books I’ve found useful and/or inspiring:

Best of luck to you and stop by to let me know how it’s going!

]]> By: Tracey http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-2249 Tue, 11 May 2010 02:55:07 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-2249 Hello,

We have recently purchased 33 acres near a small Victorian town called Wedderburn. There is a huge olive grove 50 km away in a town called Boort, so I am pretty sure that the climate is just right for olives. We purchased the land as our weekender with the view of retiring there one day in about 20 years time (or as soon as possible!!) We are thinking of starting a small olive grove of about 100 trees. Would anybody recommend of a good book/s for us to start our research and learn some of the tricks of the trade? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Tracey

]]> By: Moon Over Martinborough http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-62 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:59:54 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-62 Fantastic. Now I just need to learn how to make a steam generator! I’m a clueless city boy. I don’t understand these things. I’ve actually heard there’s a place in town where you can have your containers steamed, but they charge like a wounded bull.

]]> By: GregR http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-61 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:47:13 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-61 I just finished Gareth Renowden’s “The Olive Garden” and yes there is a lot to know about growing olives.
This sounds like a fantastic way to spend someone’s time. And you would be “hard-pressed” to find a better place than Martinborough.
Cheers

]]> By: kg http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-57 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:50:34 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-57 If a failed chemical engineering student may put in his 2c worth:
The way to clean the containers would be to make a steam generator (cheap and easy), invert the containers and insert the nozzle into the opening. Leave them steam for a couple of hours and you’ll find 95% of the work will be done.

]]> By: haplesshousewife http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-55 Sun, 31 May 2009 19:30:27 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-55 As usual a lovely story. I’m impressed by the scale of your olive grove and trying not to be envious of your success. I’m particularly struck by the lesson in olive tree psychology – and if I thought the neighbors would not have me carted off I’d be outside right now offering my olives a parable involving, non-fruiting trees, axes and november bonfires.

]]> By: Moon Over Martinborough http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-54 Sun, 31 May 2009 10:30:05 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-54 John – Happy to try!

]]> By: John MacGibbon http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-53 Fri, 29 May 2009 20:12:11 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-53 Interesting that your olives are several weeks behind ours as regards ripening. We’re in Martinborough too, as you know.

About three weeks ago I noticed that nearly all the olives on our tree (we actually have two trees, but only one produces) were black. It’s in a sheltered place that gets the sun – probably a warmer microclimate than you have.

I picked the olives and they are going through brine processing to hopefully become edible.

We have no idea what variety we have – perhaps after you’ve finished your harvesting you might spare a few minutes to advise us?

]]> By: gecko http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-52 Fri, 29 May 2009 06:53:32 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-52 Thanks for the tuition on olives, I didn’t realise there were so many varieties! Would you have been able to rinse the containers in the shower?? Good luck with the harvest.
It sure is great finally having some sun, and NO wind in the Wairarapa :)

]]> By: casalba http://moonovermartinborough.com/2009/05/29/preparing-for-the-olive-harvest/#comment-51 Thu, 28 May 2009 20:16:42 +0000 http://martinborough.wordpress.com/?p=322#comment-51 Thanks for your message. 500 trees! We are on a far, far smaller scale than you and on the opposite side of the world. Our trees have now been pruned and are just coming into flower. (I have an identical olive oil container, only here it wasn’t “ridiculously expensive” – guess some clever entrepeneur is making a killing on importing.)

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