Olive oil produced in Seine-Saint-Denis? The idea seems unlikely, and yet it has already become a reality. Since last year, residents have been scouring the streets, gardens, and even parking lots throughout the department in search of olive trees. Their goal: to harvest enough fruit to produce olive oil made entirely from local olives.
On Saturday, November 21, 2026, the Les Poussières association is organizing another edition of its Olive Festival in Aubervilliers, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The program includes a community olive pressing, tastings, meet-and-greets, activities, and a concert.
More than 900 olive trees have already been identified in Seine-Saint-Denis
While cycling through Aubervilliers, artist Romain Cattenoz noticed that there are far more olive trees in the department than one might imagine. Some grow in private gardens, others in parking lots or public spaces.
Together with the association Les Poussières, he launched the “Oh! Des olives” project in 2025, then helped found the Amicale des olives du 93. Residents began photographing the trees, reporting their locations, and organizing harvests.
The result is surprising: more than 900 olive trees have now been cataloged throughout the region. And the first harvest, organized in the fall of 2025, has already yielded a local olive oil. To take the experiment all the way, Romain Cattenoz even built the tools needed to crush and press the fruit.
This year, the project will once again take the form of a major participatory adventure. Starting October 31, volunteers will head out with their nets and stepladders across Seine-Saint-Denis for three weeks of harvesting.
The launch will take place at the Floréal community center in Saint-Denis, featuring a shared meal and a performance created in collaboration with Moroccan artists Nezha Rhondali and Myriam Rabah-Konaté. The harvest will then continue in several towns throughout the department.
Then, the festival on November 21 will mark the end of this new season. Visitors will be able to discover how the harvested olives are turned into oil, from grinding to pressing. A tasting of the 2025 vintage is also planned.
And for those who have an olive tree in their garden, the Amicale is always looking for new trees. Simply send a photo and the tree’s location to olive93@lespoussieres.com to contribute to the collective map.
📍Location: Les Poussières, 1 rue Sadi-Carnot, 93300 Aubervilliers
📆 Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.