August in Our Cowichan Valley Orchard | Jan’s Blog

There are mornings when I walk through the orchard and nothing seems very different. And then there are mornings like this one. The sun had only just climbed over the trees when I headed out with my coffee. The air was still cool, the birds seemed to be having a conversation long before anyone else was awake, and the orchard felt wonderfully quiet. I stopped beside one of our older apple trees and noticed something that probably wouldn’t catch the eye of most visitors.

The apples had grown. Again. Not dramatically. Just enough that the branches were beginning to lean a little more than they had a week ago.

I’ve been walking these rows for nearly three decades, and every August, I find myself slowing down. It’s a month that asks you to pay attention because the changes are small, but they happen every single day.

People often think of orchards as an autumn experience. They imagine baskets of apples, crisp mornings and harvest celebrations. Those moments are certainly coming, but August has a beauty all its own.

Our Cowichan Valley orchard feels full of promise. The leaves are deep green. The fruit is filling out beautifully. Bees are still busy among the blossoms that remain in other corners of the farm, and visitors wander the paths with that wonderful holiday feeling that summer seems to bring.

It’s also one of the nicest times to simply sit.

I love looking across the courtyard and seeing families lingering over lunch while children explore, couples share a craft cider flight made from traditional cider apples, and dogs stretch out happily in the shade after investigating every interesting smell the orchard has to offer. Better yet, a Barkuterie Bowl from the Eatery, always a “dog pleaser” full of protein.

The point is, no one seems to be in much of a hurry, not even the dogs.

Perhaps that’s what makes August so special. Life slows down just enough for people to notice things they normally miss. Many guests arrive expecting to visit a cidery. They leave having discovered so much more. They find an orchard that’s changing every day. They discover a working craft distillery where our handcrafted spirits are made. They browse our farm store, filled with local gifts, cider and handcrafted spirits, and leave with something they hadn’t planned on buying.

Most importantly, they experience a place that encourages them to take their time. That’s something becoming increasingly rare.

Every bottle of Merridale craft cider we make begins out here among these trees. Before there’s a press, before fermentation, before bottling, there are apples quietly growing through another Vancouver Island summer.

I never get tired of watching that happen.

In a few short weeks, the pace around Merridale will begin to change. Harvest preparations will gather momentum, the orchard will become busier, and autumn will slowly arrive.

But right now, August is giving us a chance to simply enjoy where we are.

If you’re looking for things to do in the Cowichan Valley this summer, I hope you’ll consider spending a few hours with us.

Walk through the orchard.
Enjoy lunch on the patio.
Sample a cider flight or one of our handcrafted spirits.
Bring your family.
Bring your dog.
Or simply find a quiet place beneath an apple tree and watch the orchard tell its story.

I think you’ll leave feeling just a little more connected to the land, to the season, and perhaps even to yourself.

I do.