Hello all. Its been a while since I recorded any activity at the grove. It is still all going on, but it isn't very exciting. The tractor has had another problem with the clutch. I am waiting to hear how bad it is. At the moment it is just sitting immobile in the grove, probably with birds nesting in it... I have had a disaster with the koroneiki oil we got pressed by the contract presser in July. My fault. Because of other issues, like Mum dying, and me going back on chemotherapy, I took my eye off the olive oil ball, and didn't decant the oil quickly ( you have to let it settle for a couple of weeks, then take the oil off the sediment which settles at the bottom of the container) I didn't get to do this until a couple of weeks ago, and realised that I had left it too long. So I have about 200 litres of oil which is inferior. It has a decidedly 'off' smell and taste. It isn't extra virgin, or delicious. I paid a lot of money to get this oil harvested and pressed, and now it is worth nearly nothing. Maybe a soap manufacturer will be interested. I could kick myself.
Apart from that the grove is looking good. The trees that blew over and that we propped up after hard pruning are all looking like they will survive, except one. The bees are thriving, and I need to to rob the hive, as soon as I can get husband to give me a day. One super is absolutely full, and another is filling. The second super will be a bit dodgy, as the peppermint trees are flowering now, and the honey that comes from them is very strange tasting, to say the least. Peppermint flavoured honey - not to everyone's taste..
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