The abundance of terraced fields with threshing floors (alonia), small field houses (katounes) and troughs for the animals, that can be found in large parts of the island, are proof that there has been agricultural activity for many centuries. Everybody produced their own grain, vegetables, fruit, wine and most importantly olive oil.
Many olive trees have already been planted during the Venetian occupation and some trees are even believed to be almost a 1.000 years old. Some fine examples of the millennium trees can be found in the vicinity of Kalamos and Karavas.