How do steps olives taste …
… we actually don’t know either, because over the last 15 years, since we planted small olive trees in the Namibian soil near Okakarara, we have been eagerly awaiting the first harvest. Well – we actually had an olive harvest this year! But let’s start at the beginning.
The few remaining olive saplings from the more than 1,600 planted in 2008, shortly after the foundation of steps for children was established, have long since grown up and developed into large, strong trees. Unfortunately, after fertilising and irrigation mistakes, the vast majority of the saplings had already died back in 2010. But there are also trees that survived the fertiliser application error and – we hardly dare say it – are now bearing a few fruits. In the middle of the field among the vegetables in Ongombombonde, just a few kilometres away from Okakarara, stand the proud trees out. In the past three years, some trees have already borne a handful of fruits, but these have only really been suitable for admiring and as individual fruits for snacking (provided they had been preserved accordingly), not for an olive paste or even a whole olive salad.
Well – times are changing and last year there were already about 20 olives visible on the trees.
And this year?
A total of seven jars of pickled olives have been gathered. Together with the garden consultant, who has been driving forward organic cultivation together with project manager Sonja Schneider-Waterberg since the year before last, the olives were tasted at a staff meal with the fresh vegetables from the garden in Ongombombonde. By Namibian locals they were mostly described as „unusual tasting“ – but true olive lovers were able to rate them as tasting good. Olives simply remain an acquired taste.
And what is the reason that there are suddenly olives on some of the trees?
The trees stand in the blocks where the soil was prepared organically and where vegetables are intensively planted and cared for. Other tree species were also planted between the trees in order to attract or repel insects.
In addition, it is probably due to the now continuous soil cultivation. With the right winter pruning, a portion of horse manure, bark mulch and the correct winter preparation, even better harvest results are forecast for next year. We are excited! The olive trees are always good for a surprise!
YOUNG VEGETABLES SAVE LIVES!
Support the vegetable garden in Ongombombonde with €11 – we plant chard, peppers and tomatoes as well as other vegetables alongside maize and carrots.
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