Farm update, December 2018.
In Crete, where I live, December is the main month for harvesting the olives . I am no exception to this rule so my main activities this month are around olives too. The most physical tiring but most fulfilling month, I might add!
I have already told you how to prepare edible olives in this post, a couple of weeks ago and I hope I'll have the time to tell you all about the olive oil extraction soon enough but this post is not about olives but about December on the farm.
So what else is going on around here! Let's begin with the tangerines, this beloved winter fruit that just got ripen a few days ago.
And the lemons too, although we are going to have lemons for many months while tangerines are for a single harvest.
At the vegetable garden I found the last eggplant and the last pepper of the season. The plants will probably survive through the winter but I don't expect from them any more fruits this year.
Physalis peruviana or most commonly cape gooseberry or golden berry, is continuing to deliver although it is having a hard time with the strong winds.
Parsley and chicory have become volunteers, no need to plant them any more!
Actually I haven't planted many things this season, time seems to fly faster than usual the past few months but I did put in the ground a few seeds of broad beans and pea vines.
And of course sour grass, a lot of it! It grows practically everywhere and it is a real hassle to control it but at least I have found a way to use it. I add some in my green salad for its sour taste and it can even replace lemon in some occasions. Always in small doses though it can get quite harmful.
I would like to close this mini tour at my farm with a calendula flower because beauty is always welcome :)
The pictures were taken by me yesterday and the day before with my Canon EOS 7D and a Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens attached.
Commenting, upvoting and resteeming are highly appreciated!
Tangerines! one of my favourite fruits ❤
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Thank you for stopping by Karolina :)
Such a beautiful post! Don't forget that calendula has many medicinal uses, so yes, it's definitely a very useful beauty!
Yes Lori, you are right, calendula is very useful indeed and we don't neglect to pick up flowers every year!
I am glad you liked the post :)
Wow, beautiful farm and tasty photos! This makes me miss the mediterranean climate so much! We were very seriously considering buying land on some mediterranean island, but as you saw, I just decided buying land in Denmark instead... I just really needed to be close to my family and network after traveling so much, butr gosh it's been a hard decision since growing season is so short here and I loooong for those olives, tangerines, avocados and so on! I spend a lot of time on Crete too a few years back. Lived in the caves in Matala for 2½ months!
Where about is your farm?
Ha ha the caves at Matala were my childhood playground when I was visiting the grandparents :)
Haven't been there for more than 20 years though. I was under the impression that there is a fence now and no one can actually live there.
I can imagine that the Mediterranean climate is tempting but I am sure that Denmark has its advantages too. We can't have it all in our way :)
Anyway I live on the northeast side of the island. If you feel like it you can check out this post, it is full of information and links about how I ended up here and my approach on the "leaving the city" subject!
Thank you for stopping by :)
Oh yes, we didn't live in the roman caves - though you could easily access them when I was there, but there was some kind of fence yes.. The caves we lived in are "behind" the village, on the way to "the red beach". there were people who had stayed there for 5 years or more!
Actually I remember now, I did sleep one night in those roman caves - but it was a bit creepy as they are supposed to be graves..! the other caves are just natural ones.
I'll check out your post - if you want you can read my post about matala too here
Wow, @fotostef - these pictures are amazing. And you've still got so much going on. I guess Greece is like heaven for a gardener :0)
Thank you @simplymike, I am glad you like the pictures!
Greece is great and the place I live is amazing but we have drought problems which have brought us a little bit further from heaven :)
Beautifully photographed @fotostef. Those olives look awesome and your citrus fruit looks great too.
We should be picking our oranges in the coming weeks, though due to poor weather conditions I only have 2 oranges on the tree this year!! 2 is better than none though :)
Thank you @gardeningchef for your kind words!
Too bad you don't have some more oranges but yes 2 is more than none!
We have our share of poor weather here too. Our olive oil production this year is about 5% of the average but we are grateful even for that :)
Oh dear sounds like the weather has done a number on us both. As you say I am grateful for any at all :)
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