Olive Harvest in Community 2025

We invite you to join us in harvesting olives, working on the land, and caring for Mother Earth – in community.

Overview

Autumn is the time of year when the land becomes lush again and the silver-grey sheen of the olive leaves a unique charm. It’s the perfect time to be outdoors and gather one of nature’s precious gifts — olives! The olive tree holds a long historical and cultural tradition as a symbol of wisdom and peace. We take its robustness as a teaching in perseverance and resilience. Some of the world’s oldest olive trees, over 5,000 years old, have been lovingly cared for by generations of tribes and communities.

Hands on & Caring for the Land
Join us in the joyful and grounding work of olive harvesting, caring for the trees, and tending to the land. This is a time to deepen your relationship with ancient, nurturing traditions and to come together in community to celebrate the abundance of autumn. Please come prepared for variable weather—it can be warm and dry, or cold and rainy. October marks the start of the rainy season in our region.

Who is the course for?

• People who want to be in Tamera with a focus on working with the land
• Those who love and are physically able to harvest olives
• Anyone seeking a deeper connection to Mother Earth and all beings
• People who enjoy communitarian work and shared experiences

What we will do

• Harvest olives with our team in the olive grove.
• Deepen your personal and collective connection to all beings through elements of  the “Work that Reconnects“.*
• Explore the importance of land and water restoration, both locally and as a global political issue
• Gather in group sessions to listen, reflect, and strengthen our connections through creative and interactive formats
• In case there are not enough olives to harvest for the full duration of our time together, we will do other ecological work on the land

*The Work That Reconnects:
The Work That Reconnects was initiated by Joanny Macy, an environmental activist, author, and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. This work reminds us that Earth and all beings, including ourselves, are not just physical entities —everything holds memory and consciousness. How are we interconnected with all that surrounds us? What stories and emotions do we carry about being alive in these challenging times? Including elements of The Work That Reconnects, we’ll support each other in deepening our connection with the Earth and ourselves. “If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” – Joana Macy

Schedule & Flexibility

As most program activities take place outdoors on Tamera’s land, our schedule is adaptable to changing weather. Mornings and early afternoons will be dedicated to harvesting, while community-building sessions will follow later in the day. We’ll adjust the rhythm as needed to make the most of sunshine—or to find shelter during rain.

Prerequisites for First-Time Visitors

Participants must have attended an Introduction Week on-site or a similar program in Tamera.

Alternatively, you may join the Introduction Days directly before the course, from October 30–31. For these introduction days there will be an additional fee of 100€ (50€/day, including vegan full board and shared accommodation). These two days offer a glimpse into our history, vision, and core research areas as we visit key places in the community — from the Stone Circle and the Water Retention Landscape to the Children’s Place and the Solar Test Field.