Our Story
Cultivating Tradition
The Foundations laid by Grandfather Argyris
In western Greece, between ancient Olympia and the Temple of Epicurean Apollo, there is an area of great historical importance and natural beauty. Here, on the slopes of Mount Minthi, in this fairytale landscape, our family began its journey with olive cultivation many generations ago. Grandpa Argyris inherited a small piece of land with olive trees from his family and it became his life's work to expand and grow these olive groves.
The time when grandfather Argyris worked was marked by significant difficulties. The land was rough and stony, making any farm work a challenge. He cultivated and harvested the olives by hand, using basic tools. There were no modern conveniences, and it relied on horsepower to transport loads.
Despite these difficulties, Grandfather Argyris expanded the olive groves, planting new trees and growing them with great care. He maintained the traditional Mediterranean character of the olive groves by using age-old techniques for olive cultivation, preserving the rich flavors and nutrients of his extra virgin olive oil. His efforts were not just about growing olives, but maintaining a Mediterranean way of life that respected the wisdom of the land and ancestral methods passed down through the ages. This dedication to tradition ensured that the olive oil produced was not only of the highest quality but also a true reflection of the region's heritage and culture.
Devastation of 2007
The Unprecedented Disaster in Ilia
The summer of 2007 brought an unparalleled disaster to the area of Ilia. Fierce fires, one of the most destructive in the history of Greece, burned the land, turning a landscape of historical and natural beauty into a scene of absolute destruction. The flames, driven by strong winds and heat, consumed everything in their path. The olive trees, symbols of endurance and tradition, succumbed to the relentless advance of the fire. The once vibrant olive groves were left as ruins, a heartbreaking sight that silently bore witness to the destruction.
The numbers spoke volumes for the scale of the disaster. In Ilia alone, the fire claimed the lives of 49 people, a tragic testament to the ferocity and speed of the fire. The blaze burned over 2,700 km² of land, wiping out entire ecosystems and wiping out 4.5 million olive trees. The financial toll was shocking, with losses exceeding 3.5 billion euros. However, these figures capture only a fraction of the impact, as the true cost included the emotional and cultural loss experienced by the region.
Our family was deeply affected. Our olive groves, a testament to the hard work and dedication of generations, were lost. The fire not only burned the olive trees but destroyed the history and heritage they represented. The once thriving landscape, which was a source of pride and livelihood, was left in ruins. The wildfires of 2007 were a reminder of the power of nature, leaving an indelible mark on the earth and in our hearts.
Rising from the Ashes
Restoring Heritage
Haroula's commitment to restoring her family legacy
In the aftermath of the 2007 fires, as the community faced loss and destruction, Haroula, the youngest daughter of Grandpa Argyris, who felt a deep connection to the land and her heritage, made the big decision to return to the village and to undertake the monumental task of replanting the olive groves.
The sight she saw when she returned to the village, with the trees smoldering for days after the fire, the pervasive smell of smoke, and the thick layer of ash that had covered the ground made Haroula's determination to grow stronger. She knew the task ahead was huge and fraught with difficulties, but her commitment to restoring her family legacy gave her the strength to persevere.
He organized a large team of workers, coordinating with government agronomists to ensure that every step was meticulously planned and executed. For months, the team worked tirelessly, cutting down burned trees with chainsaws, uprooting burned roots, and clearing debris with bulldozers. The once majestic landscape now looked like a battlefield.
Finding suitable young trees for replanting was another major challenge. Haroula searched for saplings of the same variety as those that had burned and despite her physical fatigue, personally supervised the replanting, making sure that the new trees were planted in complete harmony with nature, determined to preserve the traditional Mediterranean character of the olive groves.
The financial strain of such a large undertaking was enormous. Haroula had to deal with financial costs, fatigue from hard work, emotional burden, and distance from her family. However, her unwavering determination and vision for the future of the family's olive groves never faltered.
Haroula's commitment to sustainability and harmony with nature guided every step of the process. Under her leadership, the others were meticulously replanted to restore their former glory. Haroula's story is a testament to the enduring power of a family committed to preserving and promoting its heritage.
Argyro and Giorgos' Journey
Continuing the Legacy with Innovation and Dedication
Today, the management of the family's olive groves has passed to Argyro, Haroula's daughter. Argyro and her husband Giorgos, building on the foundations laid by previous generations, founded Mikri Elia, a project that embraces the rich heritage of traditional Mediterranean olive cultivation while incorporating modern sustainable practices.
Argyro and Giorgos are committed to cultivating the olive groves with the same dedication and respect for nature that Grandfather Argyris and her daughter Haroula showed. They continue to use traditional and organic methods avoiding pesticides and chemicals.
This commitment to organic farming not only preserves the integrity of the soil and water but also produces an olive oil that is organic, extra virgin, and rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. In this way they protect the purity of the land and the health of the ecosystem, ensuring that the olive groves thrive naturally and produce high-quality olives.
Argyro and Giorgos have also taken an important step, as they are the first generation to bottle olive oil. By maintaining the traditional Mediterranean character of the olive groves and using sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, they ensure that each bottle of Mikri Elia olive oil reflects the full flavor of the Mediterranean heritage and essence.
Through their efforts, Mikri Elia has become more than just a name, it is a symbol of resilience and dedication. Argyro and George are proud to carry on their family heritage, producing an olive oil that embodies a commitment to quality, and sustainability and continuing a family tradition that goes back many generations.