How steps olives taste ...
... we don't actually know either, because in the last 15 years, since we planted small olive trees in the Namibian soil near Okakarara, we are eagerly awaiting the first harvest. Well – we actually had an olive harvest this year! But one after anonther.
The few remaining of the 1.600 olive trees that were planted in 2008, i.e. shortly after the steps for children foundation was founded, have long since grown into large, strong trees. Unfortunately, the majority of the trees died in 2010 due to fertilizer and irrigation errors. But there are also trees that have survived the fertilizer application error and – dare we not say it – are now bearing some fruit. In the middle of the field among the vegetables in Ongombombonde, a few kilometers away from okakarara, the proud trees stand out. A few trees have already borne a handful of fruit in the last three years, but these were at best for admiring and as individual fruits for snacking on (if you had put them in accordingly), but not for an olive paste or even a whole olive salad.
Well - times are changing and last year there were already about 20 olives on the trees.
And this year?
A total of seven jars with pickled olives came together. Together with the garden consultant, who has been promoting organic cultivation together with project manager Sonja Schneider-Waterberg since the year before last, the olives were tried at a staff meal with the fresh vegetables from the garden in Ongombombonde. Namibian locals mostly described them as "unusual tasting" - but real olive lovers could classify them as tasting good. Olives just stay acquired button.
And why is it that there are suddenly olives on some of the trees?
The trees stand in the blocks where the soil has been organically prepared and where vegetables are intensively planted and tended. Other species of trees have also been planted between the trees to attract and repel insects.
In addition, it is probably due to the meanwhile continuous tillage. With the right winter pruning, a helping of horse manure, bark mulch and the right winter preparation, even better harvest results are predicted next year. We are excited! The olive trees are always good for a surprise!
