THE GROVE HISTORY

The first plantings were done in 1999.

Block 1 was established with 325 trees made up of Leccino, Picual and Frantoio with a few Manzanilla and Kalamata trees.  The following year Blocks 2 and 3 were planted once again the same varieties were planted with the addition of some Moraiolo and Picholine.  In 2001 Block 4 was planted (the largest of the blocks) with 450 trees, this time just Frantoio and Leccino. 

These varieties appeared to be doing very well in the Esk Valley conditions. When we purchased the property in 2007 there was a lovely flat 4 acre paddock which had been used for grazing, looked great for more olives!  So in 2009 we planted a further 350 trees using some of the known varieties with the addition of Koroneiki and Minerva
for variation.

This gives us a total of approximately 2000 trees.  The trees in Block 5 will come into production in 2013 (maybe a small quantity before then) but will require hand harvesting until at least 2015.
The older trees are all machine harvested with the shaker and certainly makes harvesting a much simpler task. 

The olives are trucked to the olive press the same day and pressed immediately before any deterioration can take place.The majority of our olives are used for pressing for Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a smaller amount preserved for our table olives.

When you visit the Olivery you are welcome to wander thru the grove to see for yourself the trees and fruit.  Bring your camera for
some great vistas.

STAFF

Rod Harford  
Owner/Director/Groundsman/Grove maintenance
The property was purchased in 2007 and Rod has been busy improving the grove and the grounds ever since.  Coming from a diverse background of Armed Forces, TV production, sales and child care provider it was a very different lifestyle for him.
He has enjoyed the challenges the grove has provided and learnt many horticultural aspects he had never dreamed of. Gaining national awards for the oils each year has been the highlights of the journey. The goal now is to be the very best Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the country.

Gail Harford
Owner/Director/Gardener
Gails passion for gardening started long ago following in her Fathers footsteps never dreaming that there would be 25 acres for her to garden one day. Having led a life as an office person in insurance and then later in the apple industry the change has been very challenging but she loves it EVERYDAY.