Julian’s March Vineyard Report

During all the cold and rain we mostly played inside the house and read a lot. We helped Mom make all kinds of breads to put in the freezer for later. We even made some chocolate chip cookies!

The vines weren’t doing anything at all. They were just sitting there, sleeping. Now the buds are going to be coming out, then the shoots will grow. The grapes will start growing after that. Dad is putting gas in our two wind machines. They are for frost protection. They move warmer air down to the ground so cold air and frost can’t kill the shoots on the vines. If the shoots die, we won’t have any grapes this year.

We have been pulling out more of the brush that grows by the creek. The Sharp Shooters live there, and are coming out soon. They sleep at night, but when it gets warm and breezy they come over and feed on the sap in the grape leaves. They carry a bad disease called “Pierce’s Disease”. To protect the buds that are coming out soon we have to put sticky traps out. The bugs stick to them and then we know if the Sharp Shooters are in the vineyard.

We saw four coyotes out in the daytime. They chew on the drip hoses to get water. There are also rabbits that eat the grape leaves, and deer that eat everything, even Mom’s flowers! I go out on my bike and chase them away. They’re beautiful, but they are a big problem for farmers.

The sun has been out more lately. I’m having a lot of fun making tunnels in the tall green grass and playing in the creek.

Rivervine Press
P.O. Box 585
Geyserville, CA 95441-0585
Phone: (707) 857-3704 Fax: (707) 857 3772
www.grapesgrowsweet.com