Old Tasks, New Tricks
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video 9.57 mins
A fresh approach to harvesting olives in the Mani
Old tasks, new tricks
Almost noon and our eyes blink in the low-lying autumn sun. A chill November breeze pushes through silver-grey trees in the olive grove around us.
Above, the summit of Agios Nikon juts majestically, today capped with heavy cloud whilst a thousand meters below, the endless blue surges around the ancient port of Trachila.
Immediately about us it’s a now familiar sight, khaki-clad workers busy carpeting the grove with huge mats, whilst their electric harvesters purr and snag as the trees yield and the Koroneiki (Κορωνέικη) rain down around us.
It’s an ancient task this. It’s olive time in Mani.
Harvesting the “Modern Way”
We’re here to see this “modern” method of olive harvesting but also to learn about a wholistic approach to the task by the organisers and young people busying themselves around us.
Claire and Alexandros (Alex) are in charge, and we met the couple a few days earlier over drinks at the fabulous “O Platanos” (Plane Tree) Taverna nearby.
They’ve lived locally in Lagkada for a few years now – she a flame-haired, punchy Parisian, he a soft spoken and gently intense Greek originally from the North. Aside from the harvest, Alex works in the restoration of Byzantine churches and frescos and Claire is a musician and teacher. They share a deep interest in history and philosophy, originally meeting whilst doing voluntary work here in Greece.
This is the fourth season for their online “workaway “platform “Greek Hands” that for three months each year brings around two dozen volunteers to Mani.
A shared experience of humanity
Claire explains their motivations. Yes, it pays the bills with a share of the collected oil sold through their online store, but their real interest is in offering others the benefits of collective physical tasks; teamwork, confidence, a shared experience of humanity and learning. It’s the essence of “co-creation”. We get it – living here in Mani we’ve just finished our own small harvest with friends and still glow in the positivity and physical benefit the humble work has bestowed.
On a practical level, volunteers enjoy cosy local rooms and traditional meals, often staying a month or two. Time is taken to understand and explore the extraordinary character of the area. Each day the team take a long lunch together in the groves, with food provided by Alex’s mother who makes the trip from Thessaloniki each year. It’s the ideal time for collective and often philosophical discussion.
The idea developed as more absent, ageing, and sometimes unwilling local landowners turn to the couple and their volunteers instead, bringing in a harvest then shared. Providing oil for their extended family is still of huge importance to many Greeks.
Local resentment
Perhaps a little resentment from locals could be understandable? Alex smiles wryly – initially this was the case, but he feels the benefits have quickly become visible and discussed.
Locals understand the difficulty of the work and acknowledge a job reliably well done, even if the workers may typically be Northern European gap year students and retirees new to the task.
Rather sadly, the couple are still to receive any expression of interest from young Greeks. Instead, we meet Nader from Iran, currently living in the Netherlands, now happily here for a month, as are Mati and Anna from Poland. Another Anna, this time from Germany is enjoying her first outing as they take coffee and cake in their downtime. They are impressed with the level of organisation and enthusiasm from their hosts.
Sitting amongst the group, Claire and Alex clearly relish the challenge of hosting and group dynamics, even when it means dealing with the odd (perhaps inevitable) differences of opinion and culture. Claire laughs as she reflects on a few “situations” successfully navigated.
Hot and Endless Summer
Despite the developing interest in this service from land owners (the number of trees managed now being several thousand) it’s still a financial tightrope for the couple, as for a second year the harvest has been threatened by a hot and seemingly endless summer. Indeed, in September, the couple almost called it off as the volunteer recruitment work began, with no rain in the forecast and few olives in the trees.
“Widespread drought in Southern Europe continues to affect productivity and value.”
Concern about the olive yield has again gripped not only this region, but generally Southern Europe where widespread drought continues to affect productivity and value.
Characteristically, Alex is philosophical as he reclines and rests for a while in the now-green olive fields – “yes, climate change or not, there will always be good and bad years”.
Please watch our extended video interview below. To learn more about Alex, Claire and the Greek Hands volunteer experience, check out Greek Hands.
Reflections on the winter's harvest
With a long, wet and busy winter harvest just behind them, we were delighted to meet up with Claire and Alex again in early March 2025. Their predictions of a poor olive yield for the season had unfortunately come to pass, in fact being just half of the previous year.
Reflecting on positives and far from disillusioned they chatted instead about characters met, good times spent and very positive feedback from volunteers they had worked with since November.
Rather than hoping for the best for 2025, experience had taught Alex to focus instead on “hard pruning” of many trees under their care. So having concluded the harvest in January, many days had since been spent on the back-breaking work of lopping large branches. Together with an unusual amount of winter rain, this should ensure the trees gain strength, vitality and become more fruitful for next year. When seasoned, the extra olive wood will also provide warmth and income for next winter. As all Greeks know, the olive tree gives in so many important ways.
A little weary but unhindered, Claire and Alex look forward to a fantastic new crop of both olives and volunteers in late 2025.
Rest assured that Inside the Mani will be there to check in on the progress of these inspiring and empowering young people.
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