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At the end of the 18th century, the economy of the Venacais was based on the complementary nature of cereal, castanic and pastoral farming. Olive growing was just beginning to develop and with 848 olive trees spread over the territory of Poghju, Riventosa and Casanova, the production of olive oil remained a family affair. There were hardly any planted olive groves. Wild olive trees were selected, grafted and roughly pruned. The olives were harvested at the foot of the trees. However, this situation quickly changed and from the second half of the 19th century onwards, olive growing developed steadily until after the Second World War, when the interior of the island was gradually abandoned. FROM THE SACCULA TO THE HYDRAULIC MILL The evolution of olive oil production techniques in Poghju, Riventosa and Casanova illustrates the development of olive growing since the end of the 18th century. At that time, olive oil production was exclusively for family consumption. Small quantities were processed. It was a rare product. The oil was not made in mills, but with a very old technique, mentioned by the mayor of Casanova in 1829: "L'olio si fà nelli sacchi à lana in piccoli frantaji alla mano". This is the 'a saccula' technique (the twisting press). The method consists of placing the olives in a woollen bag and putting the whole thing in a wooden trough to be crushed by foot. Two sticks are then inserted into the ends of the bag, which is twisted by two people to extract the oil. With the development of olive growing in the second half of the 19th century, mills like the one in Pedicellu, on the edge of the path, took over the processing of the production. They allowed the processing of much larger harvests. Equipped with sophisticated mechanisms, millstones and presses with shaft or screw, these mills are set in motion by animal traction or by hydraulic power for the most modern ones. THE OLIVE VARIETIES According to the rare archives that have been preserved, at the beginning of the 19th century, several varieties of olives were harvested in Poghju, Casanova and Riventosa: Negra, Albaccierù, Rasgianellu, Ghjermana, Nielluca, Albiera and Razanella.

Casanova

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