Monday, June 24, 2013

Our Attempt at Automating Replanting

We have been in the mode for replanting our vines that didn't make it. It's not a significant amount but there are a few things that are necessary. We modified Dave's dump trailer to make the replanting easier. Our vines are in a plastic waste bin, our IBC tank to carry water for the plants, fortunately fit on the trailer, the shovel, pencil rods, hammer and most importantly cold water for us are all loaded on the dump trailer. We go down one vineyard alley and do the replants on 2 rows of vines on either side of the tractor. It may not be much of an automation, but it really beats carrying all those things down a vineyard alley. We've done all of the Chardonnay replants (exact count to be filled in here: 105 replants, updated on July 6th) and today we are going to be doing the Chenin blanc. My husband thinks that we can do all 17 rows today. Wish us luck!
UPDATE June 25, 2013: The replants are all done! We had to abandon our afternoon efforts yesterday due to an air quality advisory of high ozone levels and you can bet that we took advantage of the advisory to get out of the sun and humidity. This morning, we headed to the vineyard at 6:30 and finished the remaining Chenin blanc and 2 Auxerrois replantings. We're catching on.
Farmers get up early to beat the heat!

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