bilbo-in-maine
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2005
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I've been working like a dog clearing trees, grading by hand and preparing soil, planting posts and now rigging support wires - all in order to try to grow wine grapes in an environment where you'd think they have no business trying to grow! The weather has treated me very kindly and signs of spring have arrived earlier than usual. My wife actually put in some onions and early lettuce today, a gamble that this kind of weather dares one to try.
I should have taken several photos of the original site conditions, but there were a lot of trees. The beginning shot is 3/4's of the way along in terms of clearing. The site is adjacent to the old chicken shed.
BEFORE
PROGRESS
AFTER
I took additonal shots as I did a walk-around of the vineyard area today. There are 5 rows running east-west, all reducing in length by one bay going from south to north. Post spacing is 14'. The southernmost row is 5 bays, the northernmost is 1 bay. This arrangement fit the available area, worked pretty well to avoid remaining trees that could shade the site, and left some room at the west end near the house for a new vegetable garden (hooray says my wife!)
VIEW EAST
To the right of the brush pile the ground slopes steeply down to a small quarried area. Granite was removed for some of the local building projects over a century ago. The piece of rock left of the brush is about 11' long that my son and I hauled up the slope on Friday to cap a small retaining wall I need to finish. It is the largest, but typical, of much of what the quarry men left behind when they left this site.
VIEW SOUTHEAST
The drop into the quarry starts at the far edge of the cleared ground. The local road is to the left, our driveway is behind me.
VIEW SOUTHWEST
Each row lengthens by one bay toward the southwest as viewed from the northeast.
VIEW WEST
The 5 rows can be seen. The near ends are braced down to earth anchors with wires running to buried concrete blocks. The far ends are braced within the bay to allow easier walking around the ends of the rows.
VIEW WEST-SOUTHWEST
Some of the quarry area with house beyond.
VIEW NORTH-NORTHWEST
The embankment down to the quarry is in the foreground.
VIEW NORTH
The quarry area has several vernal pools which usually dry up at end of summer. This year things are REALLY dry and there is not much water for the dog to hunt frogs in.
HOUSE EAST END
What's this have to do with the vineyard? Nothing. It's just on the way as I circled it.
HOUSE & GARAGE
Climb out of the quarry area to the house and front lawn. Vineyard is around to the right.
EARLY GARDENING COULD BE RISKY
Walk up from the lawn and back to the vineyard.
Hopefully my 26 vines will be delivered in three weeks. The soil is prepared and I only need to finish rigging support wires, pounding in training stakes at each vine location and seeding the strips between rows and around the perimeter with red fescue as a groundcover. If the springlike weather holds, things will be good indeed. BUT, you never know when a spring snowstorm may strike. They happen all too often. More to come when the vines arrive.
Bill
I should have taken several photos of the original site conditions, but there were a lot of trees. The beginning shot is 3/4's of the way along in terms of clearing. The site is adjacent to the old chicken shed.
BEFORE
PROGRESS
AFTER
I took additonal shots as I did a walk-around of the vineyard area today. There are 5 rows running east-west, all reducing in length by one bay going from south to north. Post spacing is 14'. The southernmost row is 5 bays, the northernmost is 1 bay. This arrangement fit the available area, worked pretty well to avoid remaining trees that could shade the site, and left some room at the west end near the house for a new vegetable garden (hooray says my wife!)
VIEW EAST
To the right of the brush pile the ground slopes steeply down to a small quarried area. Granite was removed for some of the local building projects over a century ago. The piece of rock left of the brush is about 11' long that my son and I hauled up the slope on Friday to cap a small retaining wall I need to finish. It is the largest, but typical, of much of what the quarry men left behind when they left this site.
VIEW SOUTHEAST
The drop into the quarry starts at the far edge of the cleared ground. The local road is to the left, our driveway is behind me.
VIEW SOUTHWEST
Each row lengthens by one bay toward the southwest as viewed from the northeast.
VIEW WEST
The 5 rows can be seen. The near ends are braced down to earth anchors with wires running to buried concrete blocks. The far ends are braced within the bay to allow easier walking around the ends of the rows.
VIEW WEST-SOUTHWEST
Some of the quarry area with house beyond.
VIEW NORTH-NORTHWEST
The embankment down to the quarry is in the foreground.
VIEW NORTH
The quarry area has several vernal pools which usually dry up at end of summer. This year things are REALLY dry and there is not much water for the dog to hunt frogs in.
HOUSE EAST END
What's this have to do with the vineyard? Nothing. It's just on the way as I circled it.
HOUSE & GARAGE
Climb out of the quarry area to the house and front lawn. Vineyard is around to the right.
EARLY GARDENING COULD BE RISKY
Walk up from the lawn and back to the vineyard.
Hopefully my 26 vines will be delivered in three weeks. The soil is prepared and I only need to finish rigging support wires, pounding in training stakes at each vine location and seeding the strips between rows and around the perimeter with red fescue as a groundcover. If the springlike weather holds, things will be good indeed. BUT, you never know when a spring snowstorm may strike. They happen all too often. More to come when the vines arrive.
Bill