29.09.2026
New life from the “ancient roots”
Despite the weather…
On Sunday (27 September), despite the weather, our “Out into the Fields!” event took place.
We visited the fire-damaged olive grove at Bogdani to free the young trees that have emerged from the remains of the old olive trees from the countless shoots growing around them. The “ancient roots” nourish not only the young trees, but countless new shoots as well. To prevent the young trees from turning into dense bushes, they need to be cleared twice a year, in autumn and spring. A Sisyphean task in the land of Sisyphus…
Joining us in this endeavour were Natasa, Mikis and Venizelos.
After a short walk along the muddy paths, with a few opportunistic raids on the fig trees we encountered along the way, we reached the grove. The earth smelled wonderful and the trees glistened with rain. This is the first year these young trees have borne fruit, giving us the opportunity to observe how different their olives are and to talk about the history of this remarkable grove.
Among the young trees and the ancient roots
Work is never finished…
Then we got down to work, enthusiastically removing the vigorous shoots with our hoes. With the drizzle starting and stopping, we quite literally bathed in nature. In the end, however, it wasn’t the rain that stopped us; it was the tsipouro (grape spirit).
Never mind. Most of the work was done. After all, as the Greek writer Konstantinos Theotokis wrote: “Work is never finished; it is people who are finished… And the animals, too! Don’t push them too hard.”
We thought this should apply to us too. It was time for the taverna.