Neck Warmers for Olive Picking in Pinhel
November 25, 2025
The first week of December, I am joining some French women with Portuguese ancestry to harvest the olives on their family farm in Pinhel, close to the Spanish border. The process of tree to pressing to bottling will be done by hand in the old way. I am excited to share in this experience and grateful for the opportunity to explore the land in this region of Portugal.
I’m told to bring warm clothes. Good boots and leather gloves as well as a strong back and arms!
By way of preparation, I have been knitting neck warmers to ensure the damp mist does not get to our chests and bring on coughs and colds. My knitting needles have been clicking away at night, and the creator in me is loving having a practical and colourful task with purpose. This is when I am in flow.
Each neck warmer has a name. Olive, Chene, Hirondelle, Mimosa and Iris. Wonderful symbols from nature our beautiful creatrix.
Julia - A pilgrim in Portugal.
