Return to the Olive Farm

Return to the Olive Farm

by Carol Drinkwater (Author)

Synopsis

After sixteen months of travelling round the Mediterranean in search of the ancient secrets of the olive tree, Carol returns to her beloved olive farm in the south of France, to her husband Michel and his burgeoning family. However, the homecoming celebrations are overshadowed by disturbing discoveries.
The plight of the honey bee has become an international crisis and Carol is faced with unsettling news about the hives on her own olive farm. The bee colony that has regularly wintered at Carol's farm has been decimated while she was away, poisoned by insecticides.
While the multinational companies are pushing for 'bigger, better, bumper' crops, a small band of farmers and ecologists are calling for a halt to many of the modern farming malpractices that are endangering the planet. Carol is amongst them. But it puts her own farm, her idyll, under threat. At what point do you turn your back on all that you believe in and all that you have been fighting for?
This is the story of how Carol and Michel struggle with some difficult choices, and how they decide to deal with the unavoidable disappointments and inevitable responsibilities that come with running an organic farm. Return to the Olive Farm is a song of the earth. With its lyricism, humanity and humour, Return to the Olive farm is a beautifully written book that passionately confronts the issues of today; issues that impact upon each and everyone of us.

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Quantity

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Publisher: W&N
Published: 08 Jul 2010

ISBN 10: 0297856944
ISBN 13: 9780297856948
Book Overview: The Olive Farm, The Olive Season and the Olive Harvest have all been Sunday Times bestsellers. The Olive Harvest has sold more than 35,000 copies in hardback and trade paperback and over 100,000 in mass-market paperback. Very promotable author. 'Drinkwater is a rare writer who tackles other people brilliantly ... Vibrant, intoxicating and heart-warming.' Sunday Express

Media Reviews
...an honest and truthful story that leaves the reader still wanting more * FRANCE MAGAZINE *
a lot of its attraction for me stems from the honesty of the writing, the attention to detail, the intensity of the writer's relationship with the land, the willingness to take risks, the constant interest in what other local farmers do, the lack of fear when entering traditionally male-dominated arenas, the ability to deal with recalcitrant, inebriated builders with good humour and grace!! Above all you feel like you're observing a very intimate moment in someone else's life... * WATERSTONES *
Drinkwater writes with humanity, humour and heartfelt passion about the things that really matter to her. * LANCASHIRE EVENING POST *
In Return to the Olive Farm? [Carol] recounts her confrontations with big business, local authorities, inebriated Portuguese builders and a formidable asbestos inspector with her trademark humour and humanity. * YORKSHIRE POST *
Author Bio
Actress Carol Drinkwater is best known for her role as Helen Herriot in the BBC series ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL. Also an accomplished novelist, she has achieved bestselling status with her much-loved memoirs, The Olive Farm series. She is currently working with UNESCO on a lavish documentary series inspired by THE OLIVE ROUTE and THE OLIVE TREE.