HARVESTING THE OIL OLIVES We have been harvesting our oil olives at The Walnut Tree villa for the last eleven years.  We’ve had some good years and some hopeless!  What we have always wanted is the best quality olive oil achievable. Up until last year (2018) we knew of no way to determine the acidity of the oil – the yardstick of whether olive oil is premium, extra virgin or of a lesser quality. In the autumn of 2018 we heard about Taste of Kefalonia (www.tastekefalonia.com), a family run business with a recently installed press near Spartia in the south Read more »

First reviews of 2019 Mid May 2019 and our first guests arrived.   The photograph below shows what awaited them. For colour and scent, spring and autumn in Kefalonia (Kephalonia) are hard to beat.  During our planning of the garden at The Walnut Tree, top of the list was obviously colour and scent and even more important, bee friendly. We sometimes feel a bit guilty that our summer guests do not see our garden (and the island) in these ‘out of season’ times.  Not this year.  In fact, the garden is now maturing nicely being over thirteen years old.  The planning, Read more »

  In 2005, when we first started to think about planting the garden at The Walnut Tree villa, being insect friendly was high on the list.  We wanted to attract all insects, particularly BUTTERFLIES, moths and of course bees.  I am bound to say I have been pretty surprised by how many different insects there are.  Over the years the flyers, the ‘creepies’ and the ‘crawlies’ that emerge out of the sky or out of the undergrowth constantly amaze us.  When I stop saying ‘Well! I’ve never seen that before’ it will be a sad day.  ‘Insect Heaven’ would be Read more »

The pool at The Walnut Tree RENTAL  RATE  INCREASE FOR 2020 Reluctantly we have decided to increase the 2020 Walnut Tree villa rental rates by around 10%.  Our extra guest charge (over the optimum occupancy of 10) will continue at a daily rate of £15 per day per person.  Rental rates have not increased since 2014. Running costs are the main reason for this increase in the Walnut Tree rental rate.   Having to absorb a new Greek Income Tax levied on turnover which varies from 15% to 35% made the decision even more necessary.  Whoops! NEW  AIRPORT  BUILDINGS  OPEN GOOD Read more »

WARNING! I think it only fair to warn our guests that you probably won’t lose weight at The Walnut Tree villa whether you eat in or out. Boot camp it is not! DECISIONS, DECISIONS! Below is an example of a healthy breakfast. And it is very healthy. And the fruit is mostly picked from The Walnut Tree garden. Then add some locally made Kefalonian Greek yoghurt, seeds, nuts .. what could be better! It’s more about what happens next….. Picture the scene. You are sent on the morning/breakfast run to the bakery (Spathis Bakeries in both Karavomilos and Sami – Read more »

Off to the UK A Monday morning in Argostoli, Kefalonia!  Richard Dixon (richarddixon4x4@yahoo.com) took delivery of our 17.5 kilo oil tins – we are as nervous as kittens.  It is a bit like seeing your child off on his/her first big trip from school.  Our Walnut Tree olive oil was going on a big journey, across seas and across a continent.  It is a big trip!  Oooooer! Apart from a slight mix-up because Richard took an earlier ferry than originally planned and our daughter unable to do a pick up at 5am (children asleep in bed obviously), the journey and Read more »