As a child growing up in Athens, Greece my parents would often take me to the villages in the surrounding countryside to experience a simple and ancient way of life. Harvesting olives in Kalamata was one of those things. The villagers all gathered in various orchards and shake the trees, olives rain down on sheets spread beneath them. The children would climb to the highest limbs bouncing up an down to release the ripe fruit which would be turned into oil for food and light, and cured for adding to various dishes and salads. It is one of my favorite memories.