Jan’s Orchard Notes: Harvest at Merridale – More Than Picking Apples

Summer is winding down.

The long, busy days are beginning to slow, the kids are heading back to school, and the crowds that fill the farm through July and August are starting to disappear. I have to admit, there is something incredibly calming about that.

Not because I don’t love seeing all of you here. I do. Watching people arrive at Merridale, settle into a table with a cider or cocktail, share a farm-to-fork meal, and relax for a while is why I am still here doing what I do.

I want you to feel at home here. You belong here.

But now, as summer gives way to fall, my attention turns to something that most of you probably don’t think much about when you visit Merridale.

The orchard. And I’ve realized that I haven’t talked about it nearly enough.

I talk about cider. I talk about food. I talk about the farm, the people, the dogs, the events and all the things there are to enjoy here. But I haven’t done a very good job of telling you about the earth itself, or about the people who spend their days taking care of it.

And how can I expect you to feel a connection to something if I don’t share what is happening here?

I’ll be honest. I know sustainability and orchard practices don’t always make the most exciting social media post. A picture of a cocktail tends to get a little more attention than a story about soil.

I get it. I’m exactly the same. But I also think we’ve missed something by not talking about it. Because this is where everything starts.

The apples. The cider. The food. The farm itself.

And nature is fascinating.

Right now, if you walk through the orchard, you’ll see a remarkable number of apples on the ground. A good windstorm can certainly help them along, but this year the orchard is early, and we are already watching the harvest unfold. That doesn’t mean it’s time to pick everything.

In fact, this is where patience matters.

People are often surprised when they learn that we pick our apples by hand. They are even more surprised when they see all those apples lying on the ground and realize that we aren’t rushing out to pick the ones still hanging on the trees. But a windfall is not necessarily a signal that the rest of the tree is ready.

Jeff knows that better than anyone. He has been with us for a long time, and he knows this orchard. He knows apples. He knows how they ripen and, most importantly, he knows when to wait. His knowledge comes from years of watching these trees, paying attention to the weather, understanding the soil and learning the rhythm of this particular orchard.

I am incredibly grateful to have him.

And this is one of the things I want to share more of with you. Because sustainable farming isn’t always about doing something dramatic. Sometimes it is about paying attention. About working with nature instead of trying to force it. About understanding that the orchard has its own rhythm and that our job is to work within that rhythm. There is a lot happening here right now, even if it isn’t always obvious.

And that is exactly why we are doing so much in October.

Have you noticed that our October events all seem to have a theme? Harvest. And dogs! Always the dogs.

There’s Harvest for Hounds, Cider Harvest Festival, harvest scavenger hunts for adults, and yes, one for the kids too. We’re even having a harvest paint night and harvest bingo.

We are creating fun ways for you to experience this season because we want to show you just how exciting harvest can be.

Because it is, right?

Come explore nature. Taste. Smell. Listen. Watch. Touch. Arouse your senses.

Get curious about what is happening around you.

Sustainability is exciting. Nature is exciting. And I dare you to feel otherwise.

Maybe sustainability isn’t quite as entertaining as a cocktail. But perhaps it can be.

Because when you understand where that cider in your glass came from, who grew the apples, who cared for the trees, and why we wait until the fruit is ready, I think that drink tastes just a little bit different.

It becomes more than cider.

It becomes a connection to this place.

Come up and see for yourself. Walk among the trees. Look at the apples. Notice what is happening.

Bring your kids. Bring your dog. Bring someone you love. And let us show you why we love this season so much.

Welcome to harvest.