We have an olive tree in our garden, it has some lovely olives on it, what can I

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   Lavender Jadeposted 11 years ago

   We have an olive tree in our garden, it has some lovely olives on it, what can I do with them?
   
   I have only ever bought them in a jar or tub, and I have no idea how to use them off our tree, any tips would be greatly received.

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2. 69

   DrRebeccaSandersposted 11 years ago

   Make olive oil!   There are several ways you can make olive oil - either with a cold bath technique or with some type of compression process.  You can find a variety of directions on how to do either process on the Internet.  You can also make olive extract from the leaves as well.
   
   Olive oil is a great nutritional supplement, but it can also be used as a topical skin conditioning as well.  In the winter, sometimes my elbows get dry and red (almost like the beginning of psoriasis, maybe).  I rub them down with either olive oil or coconut oil and it seems to go away!
   
   You do need to use what you make quickly as the nutritional value decreases.  Keeping the oil in a cold dark place will help it last longer.

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      Lavender Jadeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the information, I will look into this

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   chef-de-jourposted 11 years ago

   What colour are they? Green olives ripen eventually into black but you can go through a long process of making them edible by picking them, soaking them in a brine water mix (with garlic and herbs if you wish) and changing the watery mix every two days or so, rinsing thoroughly and carrying on until they're ready to eat. It can take a long time - 4 to 8 weeks- I did this in Spain when i lived there.
   
   There may be a quicker process but you'd have to go online and do some research to find out.

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      Lavender Jadeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      At the moment they have gone black most of them, but I was never really sure when they were ready, I will have a look online, I only have a bowl full, so doing your process, I might give a go, thanks for the answer

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