The Olive Tree Saga: Planting Wisdom, Peace, and a Whole Lot of Sweat.
When we first set eyes on the land in front of Casa Alegria, it was… well, let’s call it a “blank canvas.”
A big, steep, rocky slope that had produced exactly two things over the years: rocks. And more rocks.
We had a vision—to transform this rugged, untamed hillside into something magical.
Three grand terraces, each walled, straightened, and filled with fertile soil.
And to top it all off, in the southwest corner, we carved out a large circular space for Vered’s shamanic medicinal circle.
The moment that circle was complete, we could feel it—it had power, it had presence.
But it needed a heart.
Something ancient, something wise, something deeply rooted in history and meaning.
So, obviously, we needed an olive tree.
Why an Olive Tree?
Because olive trees don’t just grow, they endure.
They stand the test of time, weathering storms, droughts, and history itself.
They symbolize:
- Longevity & Resilience – Some olive trees are over 2,000 years old. Talk about commitment.
- Peace & Reconciliation – The olive branch is the original peace sign. Even Noah got one after the flood.
- Wisdom & Experience – The gnarled trunks hold centuries of secrets.
- Prosperity & Abundance – Olive oil has been liquid gold since ancient times.
- Sacredness & Roots – From Greek mythology to biblical texts, the olive tree has always been divine.
.
And we wanted all of that energy infused into our sacred circle.
The Quest for the Perfect Tree
Finding the right tree was a mission.
Old olive trees aren’t cheap, and they aren’t exactly something you toss in the back of a car and drive home.
But we found the one—a beauty with the right presence, age, and spirit—at a price that didn’t require selling a kidney.
The only problem?
It was HUGE.
Enter the Crane
On June 9, 2015, Drew and his fearless crew, armed with sheer determination (and a really big crane), spent hours maneuvering this massive tree into its new home.
It wasn’t easy, but when the last bit of soil settled around its roots, we knew…
It belonged.
That day, Casa Alegria’s sacred circle got its heart.
And from that moment on, the olive tree stood as a silent guardian, whispering stories of resilience, peace, and wisdom into the land.
In the photos below, you’ll see the epic journey of our olive tree—one of the first memories we created in our forever home. 
(And on the photo above – it’s when the circle was complete, a while later…)
