Over the past hundred years or so, tractors have revolutionised farming. But for thousands of years, wheat was planted and harvested by hand. Families would work together to reap the wheat from the fields, then thresh and winnow, and store the wheat kernels to be ground into flour.

In the springtime, we give you the unique opportunity to not only witness an authentic wheat harvest, but to take part in it yourselves. Gain insight into the cultures that developed around this momentous and happy time.

From the end of June to the end of August, participate in a traditional winemaking experience at the old-fashioned grape press. Crush the grapes with cleaned, bare feet and watch the sticky juice trickle into the vat below. Collect the fresh juice, bottle it, and learn about the fermentation process. Drink the juice straight away or wait until it ages into a rich wine.

From September to late October, you can enjoy the olive oil experience where you can press olives into golden oil, using the oldest functioning press in Israel (1,600 years old!). Olive oil was a main source of export and wealth for the citizens of this village, and it is likely that the profits were used to finance the construction of the village’s majestic synagogue.