The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Mediterranean Olive Groves

The Olive Tree charts Carol Drinkwaters colorful and often dangerous journey in search of the routes that olive cultivation has taken over the centuries. Set during a springtime Mediterranean that is evocative and perennial it is above all a tale of our time. Troubled by challenges her own South of France farm is experiencingattack by a virulent pest the premature ripening of the trees fruitsCarol realizes new approaches to farming are becoming essential. Traditional customs have been set aside while the use of excessive chemicals is putting the harvests of her crops (and others) at risk. Changing patterns within the worlds climate demand urgent action. Carols quest takes her south through Spainnow the home of more olive trees than anywhere else on earthMorocco Algeria and Italy before she finally returns to her farm. As a woman traveling alone she is frequently vulnerable and never more so than in Algeria where on her arrival terrorist bombs are exploding devastating the capital. Determined not to give up Carol accepts the support of a network of beekeepers who parcel her across troubled territories.Through her travels and vivid sometimes unlikely encounters Carol confronts some of the critical issues of our timeland-care and the harsh realities of diminishing water reservesand ends her momentous journey in the company of olive growers whose vision for the future is remarkable and ingenious.