Have you ever looked at a field of flowers and waited for the bees to arrive? Well, at Casa Féteira, we’re looking for something a little less buzzy and a little more... gusty.
Right now, our trees are absolutely covered in tiny green buds, and they are just about ready to burst into bloom. It’s a beautiful sight, but it also marks a nervous time for any olive grower. Why? Because unlike many fruit trees, olive trees are anemophilous. That’s a fancy way of saying they are "wind-lovers."
Most olive trees are "self-compatible," meaning they can pollinate themselves. However, having a little breeze to bring in pollen from a neighbouring tree (cross-pollination) often leads to a much better and more consistent crop.
Each of those millions of tiny white flowers releases a cloud of pollen so light it can travel for miles. For a successful harvest, we don't need a storm like the many we saw this winter. What we do need a gentle, steady breeze to dance through the branches and help the pollen find its way from flower to flower.
We also need the "Goldilocks" of weather—not too hot (which dries the pollen), not too rainy (which washes it away), and just enough wind to keep things moving!
All that makes it a numbers game that nature plays with us every year. While the trees look like they are covered in a white cloud of potential, the reality is that only a tiny fraction—often less than 5%—of those flowers will actually survive to become olives. Many are simply 'filler' flowers that don't produce pollen, and others fall away due to unfavourable conditions. It makes every single olive that reaches our press feel like a small miracle.
So, if you see us standing out in the grove looking up at the sky, we’re not just enjoying the spring sun—we’re cheering for the right magic formula of weather!
Check out the pictures below of our bud filled trees and a new addition to the farm. Meet Olivia, who joins our other goat Figo!
