Over the past several years you may have come across or heard about sustainable farming. Sustainable farming practices have been a priority at BookCliff Vineyards for some time. We started out as conventional farmers, as we felt that it is important to learn to produce a crop first, given we had no background in farming. Over the years we successfully transitioned to sustainable farming practices. We focused on improving the soil health, being waterwise, and a balanced approach to pest control.
Given that grapes are not an annual plant, crop rotation is not an option to restore the nutrients in the soil. The same nutrients are removed from the soil with every harvest and need to be replenished. We decided to replace the application of chemical fertilizer with compost. Because of the dry climate in Colorado, the soil lacks organic matter and makes it difficult to produce compost. At first, we created our own compost from apple pulp we received from Talbott farm, chicken manure and sawdust. This created a smelly pile of aging compost that was not appreciated by our neighbors. Now, we buy compost produced by the Mesa county landfill.
By now we have converted all our vineyards from furrow irrigation to the use of either a surge system or micro sprinklers, reducing water use and decreasing the salinity in the water runoff. This conversion was possible through generous grants offered by the NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service), a government agency.
Because of our dry climate and cold winters, we see fewer pests in Colorado compared to other grape-growing regions, where pests survive the winters and higher humidity creates more pressure from fungi. We still have to spray for powdery mildew, and in hot summers, sometimes leaf hoppers surge. The sprays we select are based on their effectiveness and their ability to only target the insect that we want to control, leaving the population of beneficial insects intact. For example, we decided against an organic spray to combat leaf hoppers, as the application required applying stylet oil weekly for six to seven weeks. This creates increased emission from driving the tractor through the vineyard, compacting the soil and impacts all insects including those that are beneficial.
We also planted a cover crop between the rows. Thanks to the advice from the Pawnee Buttes Seed company, we found a mix of wheat grass and clover that can thrive with minimal water, does not compete with the vines, and establishes itself successfully in our climate. The cover crop crowds out the weeds and creates a habitat for bugs that keep each other in balance. We have been in the farming business since 1996 and every growing season presents its unique challenges to produce a crop successfully.
