On the Croatian island of Hvar, beyond its modern culture of star-studded clubs and super yachts, lies the village of Malo Grablje, less than one square mile in area. Beginning in the 14th century, generations of residents produced olive oil, wine, and lavender oil in the hills overlooking the Adriatic Sea. But in the early 20th century, blight destroyed the town’s olive trees and grape vines. This forced most of the residents of Malo Grablje south to the more modern town of Milna, where they invested their profits from previous harvests…
