Jan’s Orchard Notes: Dear Orchard

Dear Orchard

Thank you for another year of reminding me that I am not actually in charge.

I know. I know.

After close to 30 years of working with you, you would think I would have figured this out by now. But every year, the orchard has a way of gently, or sometimes not so gently, reminding me that it has its own ideas.

Dear Jan,

You may have a plan. I have weather. You may have a harvest schedule. I have apples. You may think you know what is going to happen next. That’s adorable.

And so, as we come to the end of another fall season here in the Cowichan Valley, I find myself feeling very grateful for the lessons you keep teaching me.

Thank you for reminding me that harvest happens when it happens.

This year, harvest came early. We picked, pressed, moved, adjusted and generally tried to keep up with you. There is really no point arguing with an orchard when it decides it is ready. You don’t negotiate with 20 acres of apples.

You listen. And you pick. And sometimes you run.

Thank you for reminding me that there is room for all creatures here.

Even the bears. I am going to be honest, Orchard. I am still working on this one. I love the idea of sharing this place with the wildlife that calls it home. I do. I just prefer it when the bears admire the apples from a respectful distance rather than treating our orchard like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

But in the fall, bears are in a serious eating phase called hyperphagia. They are basically preparing for winter by eating as much as they can. And when I say as much as they can, I mean a lot. A black bear can consume thousands upon thousands of calories in a day.

So, I suppose I should be grateful that we have enough life around here to attract them. Although perhaps they could show a little gratitude by leaving a few apples for us.

Thank you for teaching me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

People like perfect apples. The ones that are shiny. Symmetrical. Beautifully coloured. No bruises. No bumps. No funny little bits. When we are choosing an apple to eat, I understand. I want the good-looking one too.

But when we make cider? Bring me your weird apples. The little ones. The big ones. The lumpy ones. The ones with strange shapes and colours. The ones that have been knocked around a bit.

They all have something to offer. At Merridale, we don’t need our apples to look perfect. We need them to make good cider.

And maybe there is something in that for all of us. Perhaps we could look at people the way we look at apples destined for cider. A little less concerned with the outside. A little more interested in what is inside.

Thank you for the people who bring this place to life.

I have a wonderful group of StoryTellers here at Merridale, and I don’t use that word lightly. They aren’t here simply to pour a tasting and tell you what is in the glass. They want you to have an experience. They love the cider and spirits. They love people. And they genuinely want to help you find the one that is right for you.

Let me introduce you to them:

Roddy is back, in all his dramatic glory. Those of you who know him will understand what I mean. He is not only a StoryTeller, but a professional theatre performer. Welcome back Roddy.

Colin is here too, and many of you already know and love him. His enthusiasm and humour are infectious. Somehow, he manages to make people want to come back for another tasting, even when they have tasting the linen up already.

New to our StoryTelling crew is Steven. He fits in beautifully and is passionate about what he does. He loves people, and it shows.

What could be better than laughter and a good drink? And how lucky am I to have a group of people who genuinely enjoy being here and being of service to all of you?

And then there is Kimberly.

And Orchard, I want to give a special welcome to our new Hospitality Manager, Kimberly. She is one of those genuinely lovely people whose kindness comes naturally. You may have already met her, with her warm smile and wonderful presence that makes everyone feel right at home. We are very fortunate to have her as part of the Merridale family.

Please say hello when you see her. She is eager to meet all of you, and she is new to Vancouver Island, too.

Thank you for the people who quietly make everything happen.

There are so many people on our team that I am grateful for. They all do jobs that we couldn’t do without, and I promise I’ll tell you more about the special things they do in future letters. But today, I have to give a big shout-out to Jeff, my lead in the cellar.

This is an incredibly busy time for him. There is the cider, of course, but there is also orchestrating the picking and the pressing and everything else that happens during harvest. This time of year he wears a lot of hats – sometimes literally, sometimes metaphorically, sometimes both at the same time.

And then there is Jason.

My son.

I wouldn’t still be doing any of this without him working alongside me. I know many family businesses struggle. In fact, I’m not sure I would recommend working with your spouse or your children – Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you should work them. There is a reason most people don’t put “family arguments” in the job description.

Jason and I don’t always agree. We don’t always see things the same way. But we have figured out how to respect each other, listen to each other and compromise. And I am incredibly grateful for that.

And, okay Orchard, one last thing.

Actually, this one isn’t for you. It’s for all of you.

Over the last few months, I’ve spent much more time talking with the people who come here. I’ve come to tables to meet your dogs. I’ve heard stories from people who have been visiting us for years. I’ve met people who have just moved to the Cowichan Valley and are discovering Merridale for the first time. I’ve discovered that this is one of the most rewarding parts of my day.

I get to hear what you love. I get valuable feedback. Even the bad feedback. 😊 I get to see the smiles. I get to hear people laughing.

And sometimes I get to stand at a table with a dog who has decided that I am clearly the most interesting person in the orchard. Fill my cup!!!!!

So, Dear Orchard, thank you. Thank you for the early harvests and the unpredictable weather. Thank you for the imperfect apples. Thank you for the bears, even though I’m still negotiating that relationship. Thank you for the people who work beside me. And thank you for reminding me, year after year, that I don’t really run this place. I just get to be part of it.

And honestly? That’s a pretty wonderful thing.

With gratitude,