Zen Mode

Pruning is my favorite task of the year. I love the cold air, opportunistic beard icicles, and the smell of a nearby chimney. The natural world seems quieter in the wintertime – no rustling of leaves or the hum of tractors or lawnmowers in the distance.

Birds are more noticeable in the naked vines with nothing to hide in; I clap my hands and a flock of doves fly off to the next block. Canadian geese fly above in their signature “V” formation while starlings perform dazzling choreographered dances over the hill.

It’s a zen I didn’t experience much prior to farming. While there isn’t much adrenalin in the vineyard, I can’t help but compare this calming and euphoric feeling to my experiences skiing in the Rockies every winter. Laying down in the snow on top of a peak that I had to hike to, without a soul in sight. Taking a moment to enjoy the silence and beauty. Sound is muffled - I’m more in tune with my senses, my surroundings, and nature.

But, instead of navigating my way down the mountain on skis, I’m equipped with my trusted snips, ready to prune vine 1 of 19,000. The task may seem daunting, but the process is fulfilling. Unlike the rest of the season, time is on our side. So we take it.

Happy New Year to you all!