With longer hair than before 🙂

It’s been several months before I have been able to blog. I have some news on the property that I would like to share with anyone who is reading this. I’m planning on planting trees this winter. I don’t know if it will be all the trees, but it will be a good number at least 60-100.

A cry for help

I’m looking for someone who can help me design my “out-building” I’m looking for a 30×40 structure with a loft. It will likely be steel due to the cost of wood. So far I need plans before I can find someone to build it. Perhaps there is someone who designs and builds, but so far I do not have any luck.

Also, Hannah and I are thinking about turning some of our land into RV/boat storage parking. We are starting to research it, but would love some sage advice on the prospect of it.

Tree Planning

I have various olive books, multiple text books on Olive oil production all from University of California

And a more fun read:

Extra Virginity by Tom Mueller

There is a lot of information on how to grow and cultivate them. I settled on a triangle diagram with the trees offset and 15’ apart from its nearest neighbors. At that rate it is roughly 194 trees per acre. If I do 4 acres that’s roughly 800 trees. Since this is more Agritourism, I could probably get away with 3 acres. Who knows…. Anyway I’ll get my feet wet with 100 trees or so this year.

Irrigation

Anyone know how to irrigate an orchard? I sure don’t. But I do know I shouldn’t plant trees before I have the watering   setup. Irrigation comes first in my mind. Luckily, I reached out to a firm that does agricultural irrigation. Although these guys haven’t called me in a while so I need to ask them again for assistance. IDC supply recommended a main pvc pipe running the length of my land and laterals going out to the side. All on drip emitters.

Renewed excitement

I spoke with a lady at NovaVina who was very kind and helpful on the topic of Olives. For those who don’t know, your olive oil can be either

  • mono-cultivar: from a single variety
  • Blend: from many olives

She recommended I find an oil that comes from a mono-cultivar that “sets my mouth on fire” and then she can recommend complementary trees. Initially there won’t be enough olives to make a mono-cultivar. And also, if I grow what I like, even if I do not sell it. At least I have what I like. She was kind enough to recommend a list of olive oils that I could purchase from Olive Oil Lovers. Now I have over $200 in oil to taste out.

Also, if you are in the area, please come taste the oil. I’d love to know other’s thoughts.