Description of Challenge
Olive picking requires a lot of labour force especially in Palestine where more than 50% of cultivated land consists of olive grove. In addition, the fast pace and consumer-led lifestyle has separated extended families and limited the quality time spent with family and friends in villages and towns, thus weakening community bonds and strengthening individualism.
Solution
As the olive harvest requires a tedious picking process, families in Palestine collectively work on their relatives land. During the short picking season, young and older members of extended families and friends join forces to speed up the process of olive picking and packing.
A healthy and abundant olive tree will require a minimum of two days of work to pick, sort and pack in big cloth bags. The yield from olive trees is extremely important to the livelihoods of families and thus olive trees are protected and regarded as valuable as members of the family, creating a strong bond between human and nature.
The Olive picking load is divided among old and young, each according to their capabilities and patience. Members of the family will work in the olive groves, singing old traditional songs relevant to the harvest, to the land and identity.
This picking season is considered to be similar to a feast where families will rejoin and disconnect from the daily hectic work routine and enjoy sunny working days with family and friends. Food is usually cooked in pots to serve the hungry stomachs after a long working day and it’s a great opportunity to share some quality time with family.
The sweet satisfaction of sending the olives to the local press and receiving the fresh olive oil of the season to go with a locally prepared Thyme dip is unrivaled and is worth every drop of sweat during the picking season.
