Organic farming olive
Could you tell me something about organic farming olive?Fran García
Answer to Fran about “the olive tree ecological agriculture”
Firstly, we want you to know that the ecological agriculture –although it gets benefits from scientific knowledge- comes directly from the agriculture methods that our grandfathers carried out. Here, we also want you to know that our olive trees are centenary (many of them probably have about 500 years).
So the ecological agriculture does not see its surrounding as a threat for the development of its crops; on the contrary, it adapts itself to the ecosystem, trying to get benefit from the local conditions. If there is an olive tree specially adapted to the cold, dried weather of Sierra Norte of Seville is our variety “Lechín de Sevilla”
The ecological agriculture began to develop in the beginnings of the 20 century- as response to the use of mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticide to increase the crops performance. This comprises the fact that this ecological agriculture is healthier and more respectful with the environment that others.
We do not want this answer to be a long and boring technical article, so –if you agree- we are going to undertake a quick overview of the natural treatments that our olive trees received.
A review of the “natural treatments” throughout the year
Clover cover crop
In spring, we let some plants beneficial for the crops bloom, such as the clover. This is made to let the seeds germinate again in autumn. This means a support for the creation of a vegetal ground cover that will avoid the erosion and for a natural humidity, a limited phenomenon in Sierra Norte of Seville. The underground clover fix nitrogen in the soil, which makes this plant be a “green manure”.
At the end of the spring, the ecological olive tree charged with esquimo indicates a close and good harvest.
The sheep are used to clean and to fertilize the ecological crop of the olive trees.
In summer, we introduce the cattle to feed it. Not only do the sheep help the crops cleaning them, but they also provide an unique manure which serves as a fantastic organic fertilizer for our olive trees.
The first olives can be seen
The olives recollection
In autumn, mostly on October, we can recollect the olive fruit and take it to the mill. Our effort is finally rewarded by success.
El agricultor responde
Utiliza el siguiente formulario para proponer un tema o una duda sobre el sector del aceite de oliva y el cultivo ecológico del olivar.
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