Stop "wining"

One of my dozens of unfinished projects - the vineyard.  I was full steam ahead a couple years ago until the goats got into the yard and had an entire afternoon to feast on the luscious leaves before I noticed anything amiss.  Then it was full steam ahead again until Jack and Cooper found little critters to dig for right at the base of several of the vines. They spent many afternoons last fall chasing and digging and digging and digging.  So there were  nice asymmetrical deep holes in the dirt and entire vines were simply missing.   I was even full steam ahead last years until a nasty crop of grasshoppers arrived to eat everything in their path including the grapes leaves.

Much to my surprise though this spring those vines that did survive all of that were strong and thick.  Careful planning and pruning that initial year has made the surviving plants nearly perfect.  Their thick woody base stretches at a ninety degree angle from the ground until it reaches the first wire where it then reaches out in three direction and producing handfuls of plump round green Frontenac grapes.

So despite my better judgement I ordered new grape vines to replace the ones that were, eaten or stomped on or torn away from the land.  The land on the east side of the house is protected just enough from the elements that the new plants seem to be content and are growing. 

Jon has grown tired of listening to me "wine" about the status of the plants.  He constructed a small fence surrounding the tender new plants so no critters can accidentally find their way to the area.  Then last weekend after spending the weekend in Estes I came home to find a drip system neatly installed in out little vineyard.

My plan?  The first crop of grapes will be harvested next year, stomped the old fashioned way in a big wooden bucket and the first bottle of Cooks No Kill Pinot Grigio will be presented to Aaron and Jill on their wedding day.