Today was tree pruning day. Actually everyday here involves pruning, it’s a source of goat food. Looking at the ground one is astounded that anything survives here. It’s Rocky, dry and lacks soil, yet some of the trees on this property are over 500 years old. Their trunks gnarled and solid, limbs curled and stout, new growth reaching for the sky. “You can’t kill an olive tree” Geode assures me.  This finca was abandoned for over 20 years yet the trees kept producing. Hearty trees translates to a never ending task of maintaining them.

Sam, Alejandro and I tackle one of these beauties. The wood is hard and particularly tough to saw through when dead. The unique twisty shapes come from clearing out the center branches, which allows air to circulate easily and prevents the tree from getting top heavy. According to Geode (one of my workaway hosts) “the tree tells you what shape it wants”. I’m trying to listen…. but I’m not sure I speak their language yet.

The tree BEFORE we begin it’s grooming….
The team and our “implements” of transformation…

Notice the open center…
The finished product!