As a symbol of unity in diversity, the “Olive Grove of Hope” has been planted in the monastic olive grove of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Potoci near Mostar. It consists of 33 new trees of a rare white olive variety, symbolizing peace, hope, and faith in a better tomorrow.
Each planted olive tree in this grove is part of a broader story of unity, good neighborly relations, and faith in a better future, says Sister Dajana Dujmovic, who also rolled up her sleeves and took part in the effort.
Olive growers, nature enthusiasts, representatives of social and cultural life, and members of various religious communities gathered, witnessing the power of dialogue and mutual respect.
“It takes very little to do great good. All these people who participated in purchasing these olive trees – I get goosebumps when I remember that moment when I think about how much they all wanted to be part of this project, and how much it moved them. And to me, that was actually an indication of the true state of people’s hearts in our country,” said Sister Dajana Dujmovic.
The first olive trees in this grove were planted in 2007. Since then, the School Sisters of St. Francis have transformed the previously neglected and barren land into fertile ground.
“In 2012, they planted 3.500 trees. At the same time, we at the Institute launched the Days of Olives and Olive Oil event. We have been working on it for 14-15 years now, and we could say that our event has grown alongside these olive groves in Potoci,” said Marko Ivankovic, director of the Federal Agromediterranean Institute.
Investing in olive growing is an investment in the future of this country, it was emphasized, and the effort has paid off, as shown by the high ratings of domestic oils protected by a designation of geographical origin. The oils from this grove fall into this category as well. These days, discussions have also opened about organic olive cultivation.
“How to transition from this conventional cultivation, which is more or less present among most olive growers, to organic cultivation? An additional certification label would mean a lot in the future for the sale of olive oil,” said Ivan Ostojic, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology at the University of Mostar.
“By developing olive growing, we are investing in the future of this country. Olive growing has been recognized as a strategic sector in the Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). We have demonstrated this in recent years, as olive growing has been rapidly developing in Herzegovina,” noted the Minister of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of the FBiH, Kemal Hrnjic (NiP).
An idea born in the silence of the monastery has grown into an event that unites people. The goal is to preserve the tradition of olive growing and to encourage joint initiatives for the conservation of natural resources.
