Kalamata, in the southern Peloponnese, is world famous

for its small tart olives. During the harvest large nets

are laid out under the ancient trees to catch the olives

which are harvested off the limbs by villagers shaking

the branches with long poles from the ground. My friends

and I would climb to the top most branches and gently

bounce them to help loosen the ripe olives. The kids had

fun and the adults knew where we were and not getting

into trouble.

For 6000 years olives have provided food, and light

and have been the symbol of love, peace and life.