8
Northern Farming Lifestyles
May 2012
A taste of
the Mediterranian
by Cliff Taylor
Autumn in the Mediterranean is traditionally the time for the olive harvest, and the same is increasingly true in Northland where growing olives is both a thriving industry and a popular hobby
I
t’s a busy time for Greg Scopas who runs an olive press in Hoteo North, near Wellsford. Surrounded by crates of freshly-picked green, red and black olives he has to shout to be heard above the sound of the press, crushing and whirling in the background. He moves ceaselessly, tipping more fruit into the washer, checking the outflow of the oil, emptying jerry cans of the green gold into the separater to remove excess water. As he works, people b a r n s s h e d s g a r a g e s 0 9
4 2 0
www.theshedco.co.nz
4 4 4 1
1 9 5
R a p s o n
R d
R D 1
K a u k a p a k a p a We build to your requirements - Any Size
WORKSHOPS
GARAGES
All designs can be converted to live in
QUAKER BARNS
Best quality, best price, best service CU S TO M B U I LT H O M E S
FA R M S H E D S
arrive in their cars with yet more olives. “It’s a frantic couple of months,” he says, admitting he sometimes works until 10pm to get all the olives pressed. “You have to get very well organised beforehand.” Greg and his partner Kath moved up from Auckland to the Hoteo property with its 500 olive trees six years ago, mainly to continue his sausage-making business Salumeria Fontana. The machinery for the olive press was piled in a corner of the shed. Having seen so many olive trees cropping up throughout the region, Greg realised there was a need for a press. Today people come from all over Northland, Auckland. and as far south as Whakatane to get their olives processed.
“They drive straight past other presses to come here,” he says proudly. His customers range from a couple with one or two trees in their garden in Devonport, to a commercial grower in Mahurangi with 8000 trees. Greg won’t turn anyone away. Olive growing has boomed in New Zealand in the past 20 years. Greg reckons there are now more than a million
A M E R I CA N B A R N S
0800 222 027 www.theshedco.co.nz
AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTOR
A SOIL TEST PAYS FOR ITSELF! What will make your land more productive?
Greg Scopas feeds another load of olives into the press
Quality Garden Sheds Attractive, Secure & Weather tight
We Make Soil Health Easy • Simple DIY soil sampling tool. • Soil Test from the largest soil laboratory in NZ. • Expert explanation from John Ferens, Advanced sustainable nutrition
What pH is your soil?
management (Massey)
• Independent advice on solutions for your needs. • On the ground quotations for the best way to get it done. All this is included in the Dirt Dagger kit.
Find out with a DIY soil test kit today and let us explain what it means.
0800 SOILTEST ( 7 6 4 5 www.soiltest.co.nz
8378)
ems for modern sewerage/waste water syst • Office • Sleep Out • Garden Shed • Hobby Room • Ride-On Mower Shed Fully assembled • Quad Bike Shed • Choice of colours • Your Design... • Locally manufactured
• Stock sizes & custom built Material and workmanship guaranteed
Contact Brett 09 402 8984 Mob: 021 750 810 Bettershedz@hotmail.com – www.bettershedz.co.nz
• Accredited Biocycle Service Agent covering North of Auckland/ Northland • 20 years experience servicing many other brands
Ph 09 412 7588 or 027 273 6967
WE MAKE HARD LOOK EASY! Gravel Lock delivers a high quality, hard wearing road surface across gravel driveways, tanker roads, feedpads and races. Say goodbye to corrugations! Say goodbye to dust! Forget the expensive maintenance cycles. Gravel Lock is the Kiwi-Made system that’s changing how the world builds roads and YOU can’t afford to miss out!
READY TO LOCK IN THE SAVINGS? CALL 0800 199 199 NOW! Silverdale & Helensville Areas Jason Peters Contact 027 44 55 308
Warkworth, Matakana, Leigh Area J.M. Sutherland Contractors John Sutherland Contact 021 621 802
Email info@gravellock.co.nz | Web www.gravellock.co.nz
Rodney Area Civil and Site Ltd Adam Jane-Rashleigh Contact 022 133 5635
Kaipara District Harrison Contracting Ltd Richard Harrison 0274 984133
Mangawhai – Ruakaka Areas Fraser Smith FD Smith Contractors Ltd Contact 027 492 8593 09 431 5143