I fell in love with Hadeira farm the first time I was out there.
Since we live in the big city, it was a solid positive contrast to get out there.
Hanna’s place
We always stop at Hanna’s place first.
There, I go out, walk around the ruin of the original house that lies there, look for my owl and enjoy the view over to the “Sahla” mountains.
A small family lived there. It was my husband’s grandfather who gave them this part of the land so they can build a house to live in.
The olive groves are in a row, I know who owns most of the patches of land, I have been down here so many times.
My husband’s grandfather gave Hannah’s place as a gift to his nephew and now the place got back where it belongs: it’s officially ours.
My big dream was and still is to build a small home here, one never gets too old to dream….
We drive on a long bumpy cart road. Really one should have a horse and a cart here not a low little Megan.
In fact our car has been damaged many times because of that. We have been stuck in sand, we have broken loose engine cover and even we got punctured wheels but nothing stopped us from going.
The seasons in Hadeira farm
Hadeira changes dress according to the seasons and according to the weather if it has rained or not.
Here everything in nature is about survival, about drinking the precious drops that God gives.
No place is as lush as when it has rained a lot and no place is as so barren and colorless as when it has not rained for a long time.
The farmers look up to the sky, the topic of conversation is whether it will rain or not, as often it will not rain….
Cactus plants grow along the road, the farmers also plant them as a kind of fence around their properties. The large shiny yellow flowers peek out like small suns and from them the fruit is eaten.
This fruit is sweet but contains lots of seeds that are like stones in the mouth so it’s important not to chew them, just enjoy the taste and swallow it.
But be careful! Many have ended up in the hospital after eating alot of it.
The eucalyptus trees
We usually stop by the eucalyptus trees, they provide shade for both cars and people.
Eucalyptus was planted by the French and it spread everywhere. Many people take leaves of the eucalyptus and boil it in water. This gives a beautiful smell in the home.
To wander along the bumpy, overgrown road around the olive grove is a delightful treat for the soul. Sometimes if you are lucky you get to see foxes, or porcupines, or gerbils. It abounds with ants, butterflies and other insects and the birds sing, some real, beautiful silence….
Dreams
When the sun is shining, it’s nice to just sit under one of the big olive trees, sit there and look up to the big treetop, lean your back against it as if it can talk and tell you stories from the dawn of time.
Stories about hard work with bare hands, about family feuds, about laughter, childbirth, crying, death…. One knows so clearly the presence of those who have been here before us, those who have given us the gift, the legacy that my husband manages.
Their voices are in the wind…
Prayer for life and a good harvest
I always pray when I come out here. Pray for family, for friends and for my husband to be able to manage this paradise properly and that no disease affects any of these ancient trees.
It is not a big profit we get from this place but it does not matter because it gives us so much more than money….( Olive harvest )
What have I learned?
I have learned in this place more than I would have possibly learn if I had never been here. Learned about ancient culture, learned about how farmers struggle here in Tunisia, how to produce oil, learned about weight, learned about soil. I have also learned about patience, the love of nature and living in the present. I have not been very good at that before.
A place where I can «recharge my batteries»
As you probably read between the lines, Hadeira means a lot to me, I always dream that I’m back there when I have hard times or am stressed.
Then I wander in my thoughts along the bumpy overgrown cart road…
Written by Carita
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