Saturday morning, with my owner and Mana, we went to the Seggiano cheese factory,”Caseificio Seggiano,” renowned for its “Dolce Seggiano” cheese, known for its creamy texture and subtle aromas of fresh milk.
Rather than taking the usual route, we opted for a winding back road through Montegiovi. The Tuscan landscape stretched out before us, bathed in the golden morning light, like a living painting. Each turn brought us a little closer to the heart of this land, where time seems to stand still, just enough to savor the moment.
On our way back, we encountered olive growers in the midst of the harvest.
This olive harvest in Seggiano, at the Piccini family “Nonno Adamo” , begins in the heart of autumn, when the trees don golden hues. It all starts with the laying of wide nets at the foot of the ancient olive trees, creating a carpet ready to welcome the ripe fruits.
With controlled delicacy, a mechanical branch shaker takes the stage, making the olives dance in the air before they fall in a fine rain onto the taut nets. Each movement is precise, respectful of the tree and its history.
The net, like a soft veil, gathers the olives in a delicate motion, evoking the grace of a ballet. Every gesture of the harvesters seems choreographed, transforming the harvest into a silent dance between the land and those who cultivate it.
At the foot of a five-century-old olive tree, a few olives rest in the net, like precious gems offered by the ancient tree. Each fruit, cradled by the draping, tells a story woven from centuries of sun and earth, protected by the gnarled arms of the immobile giant.
Bent under the branches, the workers carefully sort the fruits, removing leaves and twigs, in rhythm with nature. This meticulous, almost ritual work reflects the patience and love for the land that nourish each olive, filled with sun and soul.
Then, the nets are carefully transported to the next olive trees, unfurling once again beneath their branches. This methodical waltz repeats, foot by foot, and will continue until dusk, each passage marking the patient progress of the harvest.
