Adriatic Design: PICKING OLIVES IN DALMATIA

The day started with a beautiful sunny morning...we woke up extra early to get ready for everything we would need for a full day of picking olives.

Croatia - especially Dalmatia - for those of you who don't know yet, is famous for its rich gastronomy and food traditions.

A key ingredient - homemade olive oil, often picked from locally owned trees. Every year Dalmatians pick their olives and make a fresh batch of olive oil, from trees that are organically and sustainably maintained throughout the year.

Locals invite their friends and spend the late fall going from one's crop to anothers' all together until all the olive trees are picked bare! They are chatting, smiling, enjoying the still warm & sunny days. This is a tradition, a crop cycle that's awaited with excitement and anticipation, a chance to get everyone together while completing a rewarding and fun task! Why? Because at the end you've got an organic, high quality, freshly pressed and locally processed all natural olive oil!

There's a reason olive trees are called...the trees of peace!

Lately this tradition, previously considered a chore, has become more and more popular for the younger generations. Young people wanting to keep traditions from the old days, and pass it on for generations to come....

Already a popular tourist volunteer program in Turkey - we invite anyone who's interested in spending some time on the Adriatic coastal towns, and becoming a part of this tradition, learning the history and pleasure of this harvest, wanting to make new friendships and experience a new culture first hand to get in touch with us and join in next year!

A few visuals from the beginning of this year's olive picking festival a few weekends ago...