SAVE AN OLIVE TREE
Madera County was once home to thousands of olive trees.
A thriving canning industry and our county’s many Italian and
Portuguese families meant many olive trees.
A thriving canning industry and our county’s many Italian and
Portuguese families meant many olive trees.
Now, most of these hundred year old trees have been destroyed or sold to landscapers.
Our heritage grove of approximately 400 ancient trees is part of a larger orchard
encompassing abeautiful valley in the foothills of Madera County. These trees were
already maturein a photograph taken in 1849. The family that planted them brought
the stock fromItaly, planted them by hand and watered them from a barrel
drawn by a team ofdonkeys. They used the oil for cooking, but made money
commercially selling the oil to miners and their suppliers
for use in lighting lamps. Once electricity was
brought in, and the mining industry declined,
the grove slowly became abandoned.
Many of the trees were cut down
for firewood or to make room for cattle. The survivors,
covering almost 200 acres, are now home to wild turkeys,
great horned owls and have continued to fruit and
flower in an arid climate, except during
the worst droughts.
Our heritage grove of approximately 400 ancient trees is part of a larger orchard
encompassing abeautiful valley in the foothills of Madera County. These trees were
already maturein a photograph taken in 1849. The family that planted them brought
the stock fromItaly, planted them by hand and watered them from a barrel
drawn by a team ofdonkeys. They used the oil for cooking, but made money
commercially selling the oil to miners and their suppliers
for use in lighting lamps. Once electricity was
brought in, and the mining industry declined,
the grove slowly became abandoned.
Many of the trees were cut down
for firewood or to make room for cattle. The survivors,
covering almost 200 acres, are now home to wild turkeys,
great horned owls and have continued to fruit and
flower in an arid climate, except during
the worst droughts.
PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE
An olive tree can live to be 400 hundred years old and still
bear fruit. There is an old saying: plant grapes for yourself
and olives for your grandchildren.
Help us preserve some of these magnificent ancient trees
by signing up for our Tree Share program.
SAVOR YOUR OWN ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL- FOR LIFE
By joining our tree share program, your annual membership
entitles you to the fruits of your tree. You may help harvest,
or simply sit back and enjoy the taste of fresh oil at harvest
time from your very own tree.
Each membership is $300 and entitles you to 30 bottles (11 L)
per harvest for the lifetime of the tree. Bottling services and
private label design are also available. What can be better than
a lifetime supply of your own brand of extra virgin olive oil to
serve to your guests?
