Clearing land

This week we’ve been helping with a project clear the land along the property edge. Cleaning up lots of weeds, branches, blackberry vines, and dead trees. Here are a few photos:

Backyard Tourist: Bale Grist Mill

Note - this post was originally published 04.28.2015

Last week we went for a walk in the trees.  Once the summer weather rolls in and the rains stop for the season, anything without deep roots turns withers away in the sun.  So, it's nice to walk among the vines or head to a park and enjoy walking among trees.

Grapes!

Note - this post was originally published 5.22.2014

In northern Napa Valley, the vines have been suckered and are now flowering.  The story's a little different about 50 miles south east where, we've got grapes and jungle of a canopy soaking up the sunshine.

Suckering Time

Note - this post was originally published 04.09.2014.

Spring has sprung and so have our schedules.  We're finding ourselves busier and busier which is exciting.  The Russian River Valley grapes are a little ahead of the Napa Valley vines in growth.  We started suckering this week and getting excited about this vintage of grapes.  Can you see the little clusters to-be in this photo?

Out here suckers are what we call the new growth.  And the vine sends out shouts all over, not just the places we've prepared for during pruning.  So, suckering is when we remove the extra shoots.  Less shoots leaves more resources (nutrients, water, etc) for the grapes to-be and gives us higher quality fruit.

All this lovely green after the last couple of winter/rain.  Here's a photo... making wine in the rain and hail last week:

A Little Green

Note - this post was originally published 3/21/2014.

This week it was a pleasure to drive around the Russian River and Napa Valleys.  The first signs of green.  Only a little rain this year and yet we still get to enjoy greenery.  Spring is here: