Tiny Trullo
On a whim, I bought a plot of an olive orchard in Puglia, southern Italy, at the start of 2020. The 10,000m2 plot of land has 48 centuries-old olive trees, plus a number of almond, fig, and other fruit trees. There is also a more than 200-year-old mini-house, a perfect example of a traditional ‘Trullo’, which is only found in this region. I built a modern ‘tiny house’ next to it, ideal for vacation or remote work.
My Tiny Trullo land is an oasis of peace and nature. I fell in love immediately and embarked on this new adventure. Would you like to enjoy it with me on the new Tiny Trullo website?
“The oil tastes divine! And the container is so beautiful. Prepared with care, that is very clear.”
Erine
“Spicy and creamy. Delicious!”
Dr. Frodo Gaymans
“This is pure magic. This is a life elixir, a medicine, wow!”
Audrea van Poppelen
Buying a trullo in Puglia?
Thing to watch out for Condition of the trullo: What needs to be restored, and what are the costs? Accessibility: You want a peaceful location, but it should still be accessible by road. Also for construction traffic if necessary. Phone reception: In many rural areas, reception can be poor. It's essential to have good phone reception not only for convenience and safety but also because internet services often rely on GSM signals. Land area and building rights: How much land comes with the trullo and how much can you build? This is crucial and varies by municipality, so hire a local 'geometra' to investigate. A real estate agent can provide an estimate, but make sure to confirm it.
How are the trees doing?
Let me start with this most frequently asked question. I wish I had different news, but the trees are having a hard time. Not only because of the extremely high temperatures and the drought but mainly because the deadly Xylella bacteria is spreading like wildfire. Xylella thrives in the heat, while the resistance of the trees actually deteriorates. In this blog, you can read how they are doing, and how the advice of the 'tree doctor' I found may save them.
Save my olive trees, part 2
When I found out that the olive trees on my TinyTrullo land are infected with the deadly Xylella virus, I wrote this blog, hoping I could find a solution. Many people responded with concern, others came up with possible solutions, and some helped by adopting an olive tree. Those adoptions help to finance the various experiments.
Save my olive trees
When I bought my olive grove in Puglia, I had of course heard the stories about the deadly bacterium Xylella, which has already killed all olive trees in the south of Italy. But everyone in my area said/hoped that things wouldn’t turn bad, that the deadly disease would not reach our part of Puglia, or that a solution would soon been found. So I did what all the locals did, and did not think about Xylella; instead I just enjoyed my beautiful, centuries old trees.
How it all began
Can you remember the exact moment you fell in love? I do! In this blog, I will share how it all started... On February 16th, 2020, I bought an olive orchard in Puglia, southern Italy, on a whim. The 6,500m2 plot of land has 24 ancient olive trees, as well as several almond, fig, and other fruit trees. There is also a mini-house that is more than 200 years old, a traditional 'Trullo,' a type of dwelling unique to this region. This oasis of peace and nature is a special gift to myself after a long series of disappointments.
My first olive harvest
When I bought the plot of the olive orchard I was told that the first week of November I would need to harvest my olives. I found out there were two choices: either harvesting by hand, using a kind of ‘shading rakes’ (which would take up to three days), or using the faster option (only three hours): a machine that shakes the trees. I really wanted to respect my centuries-old trees, and shaking did not sound attractive, but I did not have much time. Plus my neighbor, who advises me, recommended using the shaking machine, which he also uses for his own harvest “It won’t damage the trees too much, promised”. Still, with a heavy heart, I came to watch the men work, and the trees shake…