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    The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Meditrranean Olive Groves
    Unavailable
    The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Meditrranean Olive Groves
    Unavailable
    The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Meditrranean Olive Groves
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Olive Tree: A Personal Journey Through Meditrranean Olive Groves

    Written by Carol Drinkwater

    Narrated by Carol Drinkwater

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    The Olive Tree charts Carol Drinkwater's colourful 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 experiencing - attack by a virulent pest, the premature ripening of the trees' fruits - Carol realises 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 world's climate demand urgent action. Carol's quest takes her south through Spain - now the home of more olive trees than anywhere else on earth - Morocco, Algeria and Italy before she finally returns to her farm. As a woman travelling 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 guide her across troubled territories. Through her travels and vivid, sometimes unlikely encounters, Carol confronts some of the critical issues of our time - land-care and the harsh realities of diminishing water reserves - and ends her momentous journey in the company of olive growers whose vision for the future is remarkable and ingenious.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherW. F. Howes Ltd Audio
    Release dateJul 1, 2009
    ISBN9781407438900

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    Reviews for The Olive Tree

    3.5/5

    11 ratings2 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The passion Carol Drinkwater has for the olive tree and getting to the source of her inquiry was just fabulous. I have learned so much from this book. Thank you.
    • 4/5
      This is the second of Carol Drinkwater travelogues of her journey's around the Mediterranean. This one takes her through Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Italy. Her mission is to learn more about the old and ancient stories of the olive, and to try to address the problem of sustainable farming.The book is a bit pedestrian for the first half whilst she is in Spain, probably reflecting that the author was not pleased with what she found -over use of water and over use of chemicals- in country that is the world's biggest olive oil producer. However, in contrast her stories of her travels in Morocco and Algeria are amazing. She almost admits to being foolish in going there as a single female, especially at a time when the terrorists were very active in Algeria. But her stories about the people, especially the females, who for the most part are living in poverty, are wonderful. Despite this poverty, it's remarkable how welcoming they were. Her adventures were something very few westerners would ever experience. I'm not sure I would be game to do the same.The reception given to her by the bee-keeping community in Algeria was a highlight for me. Don't miss the bonus at the back of the book: some recipes and photos. Unfortunately the photos are not reproduced well in balck and white. However, there is a link to many more photos online, which are still there (although it's a pity they are not well captioned to tell us where they were taken).Also do not forget the map at the front of the book as a reference of her location as you go through the book.

      1 person found this helpful