Olives can't be eaten off the tree. They have to be treated in a strong basic solution. Of course, if you live
in Duluth, it's unlikely that you will have "raw" olives
to process.
On the other hand, Bakersfield does..":<)
(or so I've heard)
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http://www.oliveaustralia.aust.com/Pickling.html (http://www.oliveaustralia.aust.com/Pickling.html)
Place olives carefully in container, cover the olives with a caustic soda solution (3 oz. of caustic soda to 1 gallon rainwater) for 40 to 48 hours (no longer), using a piece of flat, clean wood to keep them below the surface of the liquid. At the end of 48 hours pour off the caustic liquid, then cover with fresh rainwater and continue the renewing and pouring off of the water twice daily, night and morning, for at least one week (until all caustic soda is eliminated.) Do not worry if olive is bitter to taste...
dwarfer