How We’re Supporting Palestine Through Olive Grove Restoration
An olive tree branch. | Credit: Janine Joles
When we founded Sam & Angie's last October, we made a promise: to dedicate 5% of our yearly net profits to restoring natural environments crucial to people’s lives. Today, we're taking a step further in fulfilling this promise by supporting a cause deeply intertwined with both environmental and cultural preservation - the olive cultivation in Palestine.
The support of our small business is directed towards the Human Appeals’ Olive Trees campaign, to whom we donated a bit over 5% of our past year’s profit. In addition, we are pledging 10% of all our Black Friday sales to the Olive Trees campaign. You can also donate to the campaign here, or simply learn more about how they support Palestine.
The campaign provides Palestinian small farmers with fruiting olive trees to support their lands and families. This initiative honors and supports the cultural legacy of Palestine, which is quite literally being uprooted, and torn out from under their feet.
When we talk about serving populations in need, it’s important and encouraged to donate to emergency aid foundations, but it’s also essential to provide the population with the means to support themselves and their generations to come. For Palestinians, those means are deeply intertwined with the cultivation of olive trees.
Olive trees have been harvested in Palestine for over 4,000 years, and are essential to upholding the land's cultural and economic fabric. For Palestinians, olive trees are not just plants; they are an integral part of their identity and heritage. These trees, often centuries-old, are cherished and nurtured like they are members of the family, and are handed down through generations. The cultivation of olives and their refinement into olive oil, soaps, and essential goods provide Palestinians the means with which to feed their families.
And since 1948, Palestinians have had these means systematically stripped from them by the government of Israel. The IDF, knowing how essential olive cultivation is to Palestinians, often targets their olive trees and burns, bulldozes, and otherwise destroys them- partly to make room for new settlements, and partly to make a cruel statement. These actions leave thousands of Palestinians displaced every year, and unable to find other work.
It was calculated that over 9,300 olive trees were destroyed by Israel in the West Bank in the span of one year, between 2020 and 2021. In a single month in 2022, over 2,000 trees were uprooted. Olive farmers in Occupied West Bank also report regular harassment, thefts, and violent attacks from settlers.
Image of a burning olive tree. | Credit: Unknown
Due to all of the recent events in Palestine, and because we have made it our mission to share the spiritual, historical, and healing properties of plants, today’s Herb of the Moon digest is dedicated to the beautiful and enduring olive tree.
The Health Benefits
A delicious product of the olive tree, olive oil is celebrated all over the world for its incredible healing properties- and the praises are highly deserved. We all know that olives are one of the best and most generous sources of healthy fats, and olive oil’s mild bitterness and rich peppery taste makes it a perfect addition to almost any meal. What most people don’t know, however, is that its mild bitterness lends it some of its digestive properties.
In fact, it is an established practice for many people around the world to take a shot of high quality olive oil first thing in the morning. This is for many reasons- for most people, it helps relieve constipation as well as protects the sensitive lining of your digestive tract. And, when studying the energetics of plant medicines, it’s always said that bitters are very good for stimulating and supporting good digestion.
Olive oil is also rich in polyphenols, which are anti-inflammatory compounds that help reverse oxidative stress- in other words, they protect against a variety of diseases and may even play a role in longevity. Not to mention that olives are rich in oleuropein, a compound that’s been linked to improved heart health by reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure.
Another beneficial compound is hydroxytyrosol, and the role it plays in in brain health. Emerging research shows its potential in preventing Alzheimer's disease and protecting against all forms of cognitive decline- many of which can stem from inflammation.
Speaking of inflammation, the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil are found to aid in reducing the severity of painful diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. It’s often quoted that in higher doses, olive oil can act like an NSAID, mainly because of a compound called oleocanthal that is especially plentiful in “early harvest” olive oil.
The polyphenols in olive oil have also been associated with improved metabolic health. They can enhance insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.
For all these reasons, incorporating olives and olive oil into your diet can offer a multitude of health benefits and contributes to your overall well-being.
The Wisdom of the Olive Tree
The olive tree is essential for not only human health in Palestine, but also the health of their lands and environment. They excel at preventing soil erosion, which is crucial in arid regions like Palestine. Their long lifespan and adaptability to harsh climates also make them vital for sustaining biodiversity. Olive cultivation also supports eco-friendly farming practices, which promotes an overall healthier ecosystem.
And while many don’t know this, the olive tree is seen as an international symbol for peace, wisdom, and prosperity ☮︎.
It holds profound significance, and its presence in religious and spiritual ceremonies spans millenia. In Christian traditions, the oil is often used for anointing the sick to bring comfort and healing. In Palestinian traditions, the olive harvest season involves a weeklong holiday where families gather, sing, and prepare the olives for food and oil. The branch of the olive tree also evokes powerful symbolism of peace, with famous Palestinian creators, writers, and singers often referring to “extending an olive branch” as a way of promoting peace.
Yasser Arafat, one of Palestine’s most well known and loved political leaders who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 once referred to the olive branch in his famous speech.
He said to the United Nations in 1974, “Today I come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."
For many Palestinians, the olive tree represents their heritage, joy, peace, freedom, and aspiration. And it is an honor for us to have featured it today, and to be contributing to the cause.
Yasser Arafat’s famous quote. | Photography Credit: Zaytoun
About Our Contribution
While at Sam & Angie’s we would usually offer a 20% Halloween sale, we feel that it’s more important to support the Palestinian cause for freedom.
So starting on November 23 and ending on December 1, we’re offering you a 10% off discount sitewide using the code BF23, and pledging 10% of every sale to Human Appeals’ Olive Trees campaign. This reflects our commitment to environmental restoration and our support for communities affected by war and conflict.
By choosing to support the Olive Trees, you are helping to sustain a culture that has been deeply connected to olive cultivation for millennia, and supporting a vulnerable population that relies heavily on olive trees for survival. Most importantly, you're standing in solidarity with Palestinian families who are being displaced by war and violence.
You can also donate to the Olive Trees campaign here.