Olive harvest

Here are pictures from our olive harvest today. The process is long but therapeutic. Tarps are laid out beneath each tree. Olives are harvested by combing the branches with a rake, gliding your hand along each branch (called milking) and my personal favorite: climbing the tree and shaking it with all your strength. Once all the olives fall to the tarp below its gathered up and put into buckets. After 500 kilos of olives are harvested, Mark (the farmer) will take them to the olive press.
The days are long. Starting at 6am and ending at 6pm. But we rest,eat and discuss our fascinations while laying in the shade of the olive trees.

Location:Neve Harim,Hatzor Haglilit,Israel

Israel Week 4 & 5 : Farm 2

I quickly realized farm 1 was not going to cut it for this girl. Large production, very impersonal, farmer not involved in the farming process. my intent was to work on a farm alongside the farmer, gleaning from his knowledge and contributing back to the family. Farm 1 wasn't interested in the community aspect of WWOOFing. Rather it seemed to be taking advantage of the free labor I was providing. I Cashed in my Israeli get out of jail free card and traveled north to Rosh Pina. The 3 hour bus ride took me past the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and numerous other towns.
At a cafe in Rosh Pina, my South African server helped me find a place to stay and promised to take me sight seeing. It was suggested I stay in Tzfat, a old town known for Jewish mysticism. the name of the hostel I received from my server turned out to be non existent. I wandered around the town for an hour asking and searching. By the end of the hour I had 5 people escorting me thru old winding alleys. After knocking on doors, a lady opened and took me to her friends house who rents out rooms. At last I had a beautiful room with a kitchenette overlooking the hillside. I slept happy and clean, finally free of the lingering garlic scent which had seemed to invade my body.
I woke up on Election Day, listening to the Hebrew news channel trying to figure out who was winning. Once I deciphered that Obama won I happily ventured out into Tzfat. Met many artists, learned about Jewish mysticism and relished in the beauty around me.

Farm 2 is the epitome of what I believe farming should be. Family run, community oriented, small scale production. Mark and his woman Amira have belief in their eyes. Belief in life, people, this land. They have goats, chickens, make amazing cheese, run a weekly bakery/cafe, small garden, compost toilet. I'll be here for the olive harvest. An extensive task. And I'll hopefully learn how to bake beautiful bread for my bakery I'm opening in Sitka.

I continue to face the challenge of being so far from home. I expected it to be easier. I am left alone to think. Thinking too much seems to hinder my positivity. Always asking why? What's my purpose? My goal? Are the frustrations I face worth it? what am I even seeking? I feel like I'm counting the days til I'm home. I've decided that every weekend I'll travel to a new place, explore a new town. The other volunteer is a challenge to work with. he's on some type of power trip. It brings out my intense stubbornness and a competitive nature I didn't know I had. Trying to learn how to be firm yet kind. Not easy. So right now I'm removing myself and drinking some tea to calm down. Having to share meals, a bathroom, bedroom and work with a semi-manipulative, selfish, power tripping man is something I won't ever wish to do again. I think I can push through it, I came to learn about farming.
I plan on staying here a few more weeks and then after Becky's visit I'll spend several weeks diligently exploring every inch of Israel.

Tid bit of facts:
Lime trees have nasty thorns.
You can use the brain of an animal + salt to cure its hide.

Tzfat:











Sea of Galilee:




Rosh Pina & Farm:

Location:HaHalutzim,Rosh Pina,Israel