There has been much deserved publicity
lately about the hunting of migrant birds as they fly over the Mediterranean
heading north for the breeding season.
Malta has been singled out as perhaps the worst perpetrator, with a
varied selection of means of destruction being employed, including reports of
harriers being shot on the ground at night dazzled by torchlight and unable to
escape.
It is heartening to relate that, in some
small way, others are doing their bit for conservation. Further north in Catalonia where our olive
oil is made by Olis Gasull, this environmentally tuned-in producer has been
working with the GEPEC group of ecologists to allow the reintroduction of barn
owls into their olive groves. They now have
a signed agreement and three barn owls were hatched in the nattily named Centre
de recuperació de Fauna Salvatge in Vallcent.
They will remain in captivity in full sight of the olive trees to
acclimatise them to their intended future home and will be let out in a month’s
time when they are old enough to hunt for themselves.
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| Gasull's olive groves |
Gasull have been following a policy of
general sustainability for several years now and pursue agricultural strictures
which have eliminated herbicides and reduced the use of pesticides as much as
possible. They see this collaboration
with the naturalists as a logical extension of their responsible methods of
farming.
Although technically speaking they cannot
claim to be organic, the fact is that they are trying harder than many and it
is reassuring to know that their delicious olive oil can only benefit further
from this laudable policy.
If you have not yet discovered our Gasull
Olive Oil now is the time to give it a go.
At £7.20 for a litre, or £35 for a five litre tin of cool pressed, extra
virgin, single variety Arbequina olive oil you have a bargain kitchen
essential. You are also supporting a
small independent company endeavouring to discharge its environmental and
community responsibilities as best it can and make a proven difference in so
doing. Buy Olive Oil here
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| Arbequina Olives |
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