As harvest season winds down, Dave Gleason reflects on a year shaped by favorable conditions. The weather, though occasionally challenging, provided minimal rain and manageable winds, allowing for a smooth and productive harvest.
With most of the apples now picked off the trees, they begin to settle into a quiet, restful state, the opposite of the bustling months prior when the trees were speaking to us—signaling their needs for water, protection, and care as they faced threats from pests, disease, and occasional hail.
Farming, however, is as much about careful planning and tough choices as it is about growth. Walking the orchard and assessing the crop each season helps guide our decisions for the years ahead. Sometimes, hard choices are necessary to sustain our business with the same passion and dedication that has fueled us all these years.
As we shift our focus, winterizing the trees becomes our priority—pruning, reshaping, and clearing excess branches to encourage healthy growth for next year. Farming is a continuous cycle, and as the orchards rest, the groundwork for another successful season is already in motion.
Remember, every season brings a balance of care, decision-making, and planning.
