FARM PROFILE New Owners Breathe New Life Into Alyson's Orchard

The new owners of Alyson's Orchard hope this season that their business will bear fruit — in more ways than one. &emsp;&emsp;Adam and Taylor Naeck bought the 350-acre property and business (which went on the market in 2020) in early January from founder Susan Jasse. The sale was a six-month process. &emsp;&emsp;The couple, who grew up in the Monadnock Region (Adam in Swanzey and Taylor in Gilsum), have been regular visitors to the orchard since they were young and now as parents with their two daughters. &emsp;&emsp;Jasse and her late husband, Bob, established the longtime orchard, farmstand and events venue on Route 12 in Walpole in the 1980s and named it after the youngest of Bob's seven children, who died in infancy. &emsp;&emsp;Before buying the orchard, Adam ran his own business working as a diesel mechanic repairing tractors and agricultural equipment while also running a pumpkin patch seasonally in Charlestown. Taylor was an occupational therapy assistant for the Fall Mountain Regional School District. &emsp;&emsp;"We wanted to do something different, like a bigger family business," says Adam, so he sold Rev's Enterprises (the name of his diesel repair shop) and reached out to the couple's real estate agent, Katie Beam. The couple had already been living in Walpole for the past four years. &emsp;&emsp;"This was a no-brainer," he adds. &emsp;&emsp;He brought two of Adam's diesel repair business employees — Chris Sander and Chris Walker — to Alyson's to work on the refurbishments. &emsp;&emsp;The couple wants to build upon the orchard's history and don't intend to rename the business. &emsp;&emsp;As soon as they turned the key to their new business, they rolled up their sleeves and got right to work, making major and minor improvements. &emsp;&emsp;They started by upgrading the bridal suite, on the second floor of the building, which also holds offices, the kitchen and event space. &emsp;&emsp;The suite received a complete overhaul with a few new coats of paint (brightening the space up from its former turquoise color), a new and elegant raised ceiling, four new bridesmaid's stations, a new and spacious bride station, "last look" room with four 8-foot mirrors and platform, and new and improved lighting fixtures. &emsp;&emsp;"Some people already changed their (wedding day) schedules so they can get ready here," says Taylor of the new inviting space. &emsp;&emsp;So far, the couple has booked 22 weddings for 2023; and after posting photos of the new bridal suite on Facebook and Instagram, they have gotten booking requests for other events, such as a semi-formal. They hope to host parties and other small gatherings there. &emsp;&emsp;One of the next big projects to complete is a new handicap-accessible deck that will double the square footage of the former one and fit 120 people with built-in seating and a fireplace. Adam will add a nearby patio, which includes building an outdoor kitchen. &emsp;&emsp;Austin Reida — the former chef/owner of Street Savory Food Truck and The Laughing Gull in Keene and was a customer of Adam's — is now the new chef who will be in charge of tavern nights on Fridays and Saturdays in the Orchard Room (the name of the orchard's event space). In the past, the full commercial kitchen was used only for catering events. But, under the Naecks' ownership, this will be the first time the orchard will offer a weekly menu. &emsp;&emsp;"We're hoping to host more parties and events here," says Adam. "This opens up new opportunities." &emsp;&emsp;Other changes to the event space include updated decor, a new stereo system and a point-of-sale system at the bar, which formerly was cash-only. &emsp;&emsp;"It's a game-changer," notes Taylor. &emsp;&emsp;Another plan is to host live music on a semi-regular basis. &emsp;&emsp;Other plans include expanding the playground at the orchard and inventory at the farm store and adding a petting zoo and new "glamping" tents around the pond for wedding parties to have a place to stay right on the property. &emsp;&emsp;The couple would like to host more events and activities such as wine and paint nights, craft fairs and classes in wreath-making and pruning. &emsp;&emsp;Down the road, the couple would like to add a campground on one 90-acre lot and host a school program at a 65-acre fenced-in lot on the property that's currently abandoned and overgrown. &emsp;&emsp;"We want it to be a destination for families all year long, not just during apple-picking season," says Adam. &emsp;&emsp;Taylor feels this can be done by being active on social media showcasing all the orchard's new features. &emsp;&emsp;"We're approaching things differently than how they were done before," says Taylor. "We're trying to bring (the orchard) to its full potential." BOX: Alyson's Orchard 57 Alyson's Land Walpole, NH 03608 603-756-9800 alysonsorchard.com