This beauty was planted in 1850 at The Domain, Sidney Australia The fig tree (Ficus carica) is as intertwined with the development of society as the olive tree. The fig has historical and mythical significance. For thousands of years, fig trees have grown close to human settlements. They don't require a lot of care and the trees offer shade. The fruit's sweetness, long storage life when dried, and adaptability to dry climates made them an essential part of early agriculture

What country produces the most olive oil? What country consumes the most olive oil? (Find the answers at the end.) Oil Worthy of the Gods Homer, the Greek poet, is credited with coining the term "Liquid Gold," even though that's not what he said. In a passage in the Iliad and Odyssey, Homer describes damsels anointing Achilles, washing him with rich and fragrant olive oil carried in a 'golden flask.'" The term "golden flask" evolved to "liquid gold," which is about right.   

The Myth In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus, the god of the sky and order, had his daughter Athena compete against Poseidon, the god of the sea, for control of Athens. It was an important competition. After all, Athens was a powerful city and the center of the arts, learning, and philosophy. It is one of the world's oldest cities and has long been thought of as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. As it grew into this noble post, the people felt t

My Olives Plus Two Crates not Shown Crushing the fruit is the second phase of the harvest. Various wineries and olive mills provide this service, and for a small fee, you can turn your olives into the freshest olive oil available! You can also find olive mills that still use stones to grind the olives versus a crusher. After three days of collecting olives, we hauled them to the Mazzola Winery  and the olive crusher. Mazzola Winery & Crusher. The crusher, Mazzola, is a small

Lucas is ready for harvest. I never thought I'd be a small olive farmer. Since I can remember, I've dreamt of having a farm with animals, green pastures, and that classic old red barn. And I've lived on land most of my adult life—from 5 to 1400 acres—with big gardens and chickens but (never the big red barn.) I've been so fortunate to live in places with lots of room, expansive views, skies dripping with stars, and sunsets that take your breath away. And I was delighted when