October in Jimena
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Jimena above the mist
Jimena Market
The weather remained hot and dry for the first three weeks of October and our pool was a welcome haven
in the heat of the afternoon. Around October 17 we had some heavy rain but this was followed by alternating
sun and showers. It is interesting how quickly the wild plants come back to life after their summer dormancy as soon as they get some rain. Indeed the first Mandrake flowers were to be seen all over the meadow.
Olive Harvesting
Pomegranates on the farm
October is the month for harvesting the green olives for eating. Traditionally the olives are harvested
by one person banging the branches of the tree with a long stick while others pick up the olives as they
fall; sometimes they will spread a large sheet on the ground to catch the fruit. When picked the
olives are disgustingly bitter and quite inedible. This is remedied by spreading them out on a table and
cracking them with a heavy rolling pin. The cracked olives are then soaked in fresh water for about 10
days, changing the water every other day. At the end of this time they are put in a brine solution
in an earthenware pot together with a selection of herbs to suit the
olive pickler's taste.
We use garlic, lemons, oregano, thyme and fennel stalks. As time progresses the olives become less
and less bitter and make a very pleasant tapas with a copita of fino sherry.
What's happening on the
Farm?
A patio garden
Banana in flower
Although the meadows have long since dried out and turned a beautiful golden yellow, the gardens are still
a mass of flower as we irrigate; albeit as little as possible.
In anticipation of the coming rains we have made a start on establishing our organic vegetable gardens.
We have been much helped in this by employing a number of dedicated and enthusiastic people under a scheme
called WWOOF (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).
Quoting from their website:
The aims of WWOOF are to ...
- enable people to learn first-hand about organic growing techniques
- enable town-dwellers to experience living and helping on a farm
- help farmers make organic production a viable alternative
- improve communications within the organic movement.
Tree Frog
Grasshopper
Although the countryside appears to be barren there is a large and varied wildlife; both animals and
plants. The beautiful tiny bright green tree frog is often to be seen and, even more often, to be heard.
In spite of its diminutive size, about 4cm long, it produces an astonishingly loud noise not unlike a cicada; a
chorus of them is almost deafening!
Vintage Car
Vegetable Stall
We have continued to run the Farmers' Markets on Sudays and the range of produce on offer continues to grow
and we expect that it will increase even more when the growing season starts in November. At one of the
Markets this month we were visited by the Vintage Car Club of Gibraltar who showed a splendid range
of vintage cars and commercial vehicles.
Pie Stall
