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Rose HUBERT

Pietra Macchja

PDO Olive Oil – Organic Almonds Farmyard Campsite – Guest Cottages

Visits : May - October / 10am-12pm & 5pm – 8pm for tasting sessions.

Regions : Balagna

Categories : Restaurants & guest houses, farm & cottage holidays

Agricultural sectors : Hazelnuts and Almonds, Oliu di Corsica

In 1986, just a few years after arriving in Corsica, Rose Hubert decided to bring the Pietra Macchja olive grove back to life, the plantation of ‘Picholine’ olives (small green fruits with delicious notes of fresh grass) having been left abandoned for 25 years.

Rose knew exactly the right combination of simple techniques needed to spark the trees back into existence, rolling up her sleeves and clearing the land of brush before pruning, hoeing, grafting, replanting and irrigating the precious trees.

Perhaps it was a stroke of destiny that led the grove to be planted in 1960, the same year Rose was born. Since acquiring the plot in 1991, she hasn’t stopped working to improve its value, renting other nearby fields as well. Then, in 1996, her expert hands planted a separate plot of almond trees using organic farming techniques followed by a tasteful renovation of the old sheep barn (which became a pair of guest cottages) and then adding a campsite to the farm by turning the old milking shed into a shower block.

Though Rose can certainly be happy with what she’s accomplished, her greatest triumph is passing on her infectious enthusiasm to her sons Cléo and Théo – the two boys have now taken over the farming operations.

Rose now busies herself welcoming guests to the property, a perfect outlet for her natural generosity and desire to share her experience with others. As the lady herself would say: “Well, that’s what I’m here for!”