Good morning and happy Sunday,
Today the field is so quiet that it makes you want to speak in whispers. Here, even the trees seem to know it's time to rest. I confess that I love these days. It's as if the whole orchard puts on its pajamas and says, "Maybe tomorrow."
Rest is not laziness; that's why—even when resting—we put our minds to work. Always with an eye on the importance of anticipating and planning.
And I'll tell you a bit about that today.
In winter, trees enter what technicians call quiescence. I like to explain it as when you turn down the radio volume to hear the crackling of the fireplace.
It's a strategy. With the cold and fewer hours of daylight, the tree calms down, breathes slowly, and drinks just enough. It stops expending energy on new leaves and concentrates all its strength in the root, which is its safe haven. There, it stores sugars and nutrients, which serve as an internal warmth and a piggy bank for when spring arrives.
If you notice, the cycle is very wise. Autumn is a time to furl sails. Winter is a slumber with the engine idling. Spring arrives, and the tips of the branches awaken like someone stretching their arms after getting out of bed. And summer is a big celebration.
Nature doesn't improvise. That's why farmers can't improvise either. Here, we have to plan at the rhythm of the field. Thinking today where to prune so that tomorrow there's just enough shade, when to water sparingly so that the roots grow strong, and how to organize harvests so that everything arrives perfectly ripe.
You know that we work hand in hand with more farmers throughout Spain. We all care for the plots as our ancestors taught us. Without rush and with our hands.
Sometimes they ask me if trees don't get stressed with so many coming and going seasons. I tell them no, that if they were people, winter would be their blanket and socks Sunday. They save energy and then come out with eagerness. I wish we all learned a little from them.
If you feel like filling your fruit bowl for the week, today is a good day to do it. Tomorrow at dawn, we'll go through the trees and orchards, pick yours, and it goes straight from our land to your table.🍊
Thanks for joining us for another Sunday. I wish you a peaceful day that recharges your batteries. We'll still be here among the terraces, listening to the orchard breathe.
A big hug from Valencia, and until next week,
