Monday, January 6, 2014
Time and Temperature: 11:35PM, 8 degrees below zero
It is currently 8 degrees below zero in Columbia, Missouri as registered at the Columbia Regional Airport and vacinity. The high temperature today was marked at 15:54PM, same location, and it registered at zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Time and Temperature: from 05:54AM until 07:54AM.....
-9F. This was the real and actual temperature registered, for the duration of two hours, at Columbia Regional Airport in Columbia, Missouri on the morning of Jan 6, 2014, this very morning. That is quite impressive considering how far south we are of North Dakota, or Minnesota and all parts north. Now that this has been established, I wonder how many grapevines I will have growing in late May of 2014. I wonder how many will survive this cold snap; I am pretty certain that the hybrids from the University of Minnesota's grape breeding program will come out of this unscathed. I can't hazard a guess, but I feel confident about the impervious ways of my grapevines, all of the varietals I have worked hard to grow in the past years. And that confidence helps in most situations. - Cheers to all!
Time and Temperature: 09:12AM, -7Fahrenheit
That is real temperature, not anything such as "...feels like negative 7 degrees.". Now, again, this is only little old Columbia, Missouri. Yet, I find it all pretty big news, actually. I suppose anything associated with the name or description 'Polar Vortex' is bound to be newsworthy. For my little internal gardener sensors, however, these are very interesting developments.
I haven't checked the temps in the past four hours, so I may have missed a cooler low that had been registered, but I have to reference NOAA's website to review those logged temps for the past four hours. I will do so after this publishing. .....developing.
Time and Temperature: 02:50AM, -4F.
Current conditions in Columbia, Missouri: 02:50AM, -4 Fahrenheit.
I work overnights and when I depart work at 730AM, the predicted temperature is slated for -10.
At -4F, it feels like -22F. For Columbia, Missouri, this is a pretty decent freeze we are set to encounter. Moisture levels this winter, thus far, have been pretty lackluster. A small amount of snow fell yesterday throughout the day, perhaps we accumulated 3 to 4 inches, I should confirm that with NOAA, but haven't.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
The Weather Is Breaking
The current temperature registers at 48 degrees Fahrenheit. There are the usual changes that one comes to expect from this time of year; they are there, I won't mention them.
I planted about 60 acorns two weeks ago. The reason I did so is because I planted about 10 acorns last year with considerable success. Squirrels plant acorns all of the time, it seems, and their success rates are remarkable for assisting with reforestation efforts.
I split up quite a few of my Bee Balm plants, in the past few weeks. I was really quite delighted to be engaged in such a process. I noticed that the Bumblebees truly enjoyed my Bee Balm plants at the beginning of the summer. The flowers expired pretty much by the end of June, and the Bumblebees found other places in the area to get their nectar thereafter. Only yesterday had I seen a single Bumblebee visit my Marigolds, it had been nearly two months consisting in zero sightings of the black and yellow colored flying friendlies.
And, with every passing year I am learning more and more about the cultivation of grapevines. Growing grapes is quite specifically about practicing patience, at least it is in the early years. This endeavor is many things, but patience is central, especially when trying to learn the skill of propagation from cuttings. It also is a practice of cultivating patience because grapevines do go through a period of adolescence; they have to grow up, in other words. Therefore, a good bit of my thoughts about my grapevines centers on watching how much they might have grown in a month's time, or over the course of a summer.
More words to come in the future. Feeling a little sleepy right now. Positive signs, though. Lots of good has come this year. It is no wonder that such an American holiday as 'Thanksgiving' exists. There is much to be grateful for, especially after a growing season.
- Cheers!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Sunflowers Summer 2013
Quick update on a few sunflowers I started from seed. I believe these are Dwarf Sunflowers. Finally they took to blossoming in late July. They are little reminders of joy. For some reason, there is such a feeling of satisfaction I have whenever I can bring Sunflowers all the way to flowering during a growing season. And to be honest, I actually think they are very difficult to grow. How they do it so well in South and North Dakota and Ohio, and anywhere else, with their vast fields of standing Sunflowers, it is beyond me, but I absolutely love happening upon a field of sunflowers in bloom.
The grapevines are growing really well. Still trying to track down a parcel of land, but I worry not. It will happen in its own time. I actually thought I lost one of my Frontenac vines, but in the past 3 weeks two sprouts began to grow up from the surrounding soil where the old dead wood still protrudes from the hole that I planted it in last October 2012. Feels like such a victory to still pull off a recovery with all seemingly lost with this particular vine. Once again, I am a proud papa. Learning tonnes about using Kelp concentrates, Effective Microorganisms, etc., for my soils. Lots of perennials growing this year, which means I can split some and spread them about in smaller clumps. Design shall ensue. This has also been a pretty dramatic departure of a summer from the summer of 2012 with its limited moisture content, and extreme heat temperatures. On few occasions have we had temperatures nearing even 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, the area where I live is reporting a total, thus far, of 32.14 inches of rain. That is a little over 5.5 inches of rain above the average that this area typically receives in a given year by this date. The rain slowed a bit during most of June, but the rains seem to have returned in the last three weeks. I actually cut the grass at my apartment once a week. I did so yesterday and was taken aback by how much I had to cut. Lots of growth in a mere 7 days time. Just as well, I feel better at the art of patience in gardening. Maybe most of that is because I am focusing more on root development. Trying to get perennials going from seed maybe projects a gardener into such fixations, and perhaps that isn't such a bad thing. My Common Milkweed did return this year from last year, but it still didn't put out its flowers. They grew tall and mighty, but still nothing in the way of seed. That doesn't bother me so much because I know I have the roots, and that means I have a growing season for Summer 2014, barring any extreme change in the rhythm of my heart.
The grapevines are growing really well. Still trying to track down a parcel of land, but I worry not. It will happen in its own time. I actually thought I lost one of my Frontenac vines, but in the past 3 weeks two sprouts began to grow up from the surrounding soil where the old dead wood still protrudes from the hole that I planted it in last October 2012. Feels like such a victory to still pull off a recovery with all seemingly lost with this particular vine. Once again, I am a proud papa. Learning tonnes about using Kelp concentrates, Effective Microorganisms, etc., for my soils. Lots of perennials growing this year, which means I can split some and spread them about in smaller clumps. Design shall ensue. This has also been a pretty dramatic departure of a summer from the summer of 2012 with its limited moisture content, and extreme heat temperatures. On few occasions have we had temperatures nearing even 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, the area where I live is reporting a total, thus far, of 32.14 inches of rain. That is a little over 5.5 inches of rain above the average that this area typically receives in a given year by this date. The rain slowed a bit during most of June, but the rains seem to have returned in the last three weeks. I actually cut the grass at my apartment once a week. I did so yesterday and was taken aback by how much I had to cut. Lots of growth in a mere 7 days time. Just as well, I feel better at the art of patience in gardening. Maybe most of that is because I am focusing more on root development. Trying to get perennials going from seed maybe projects a gardener into such fixations, and perhaps that isn't such a bad thing. My Common Milkweed did return this year from last year, but it still didn't put out its flowers. They grew tall and mighty, but still nothing in the way of seed. That doesn't bother me so much because I know I have the roots, and that means I have a growing season for Summer 2014, barring any extreme change in the rhythm of my heart.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Precipitation? Where have you been all of our life?
Here are a few interesting facts about this years' Precipitation tally, as presented by www.wunderground.com: To date, the area of Columbia, Missouri has received 16.92 inches of total precipitation, either in the way of snow or rain. The average amount of precipitation we typically receive is 11.23 inches, by now (as of April 29, 2013). Thus far, in the month of April 2013, we have received 7.39 inches of rain. A typical April yields, on average, 4.15 inches of rain. I drove over the Missouri River by Chesterfield last week and the waters are up and back to 'normal'. When I drove over the bridge in January 2013, the levels were shockingly low. I am absolutely amazed and grateful for the change. Curious how the weather patterns will unfold into June and July. Been checking on my grapevines at the apartment and bud break is occurring this week, has happened with several of the varietals, actually. Same with the Hops vines. Haven't done much digging and cleaning of the garden at my apartment (what I would call 'suburbanification') because I have been reading quite a bit lately on no-till farming and how it helps a soil system stay intact, prevents erosion, etc. I'll have to do some digging soon, as I have a lot of green leafy plants to transplant soon. However, there is a prediction of a low of 30 degrees Fahrenheit sometime this upcoming week. Today is predicted to have a high of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring is here, to an extent. It is still late April, to be honest, temps continue their flirting with the frost/freeze range. I am a bit sad that my Joe Pye Weed isn't returning this year. That's a huge loss to my sense of joy in the garden. I absolutely love Joe Pye Weed, I know the bees do, also. But, I do have many, many perennials popping up and returning, once again. I still don't know how to identify Ironweed or Common Milkweed, just yet, at least, not as young plants. I know it will be a very colorful spring and summer with the Monarda and Bee Balm in bloom. I should be able to harvest lots of Kale, Collards seeds, maybe even Kohlrabi and Broccoli seeds later this summer. Fingers crossed. I had some Hard Red Winter Wheat growing in my community garden plot, on the edge of it, actually, and during the supposed 'Spring Clean-Up Party', someone took the lawn mower and cut it down. I am not too pleased, but whaddya gonna do? At least I still have some growing at the apartment. It was a learning experience to grow Wheat for the first time, for that, I am grateful. Funny thing I discovered recently at the community garden. My immediate neighbor who has a plot to my eastern edge, he and I were at the garden at the same time (very uncanny) two weeks back. Got to talking, I was pruning my grapevines, he was assessing and possibly planting seed/broadcasting, etc. He told me a buddy of his just bought a vineyard along the Missouri river. Fascinating how serendipity says hello in life. We'll see how things go over time.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Degrees. Celsius. Fahrenheit. Jan 14, 2013 Monday
The current temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit. That is -12.222 Celsius.
Date: Jan 14, 2013. Time: 4:45AM.
Pretty cold, for this winter.
The coldest temperature that we registered in this region was 9 degrees Fahrenheit. A few weeks ago.
- Update
Date: Jan 14, 2013. Time: 4:45AM.
Pretty cold, for this winter.
The coldest temperature that we registered in this region was 9 degrees Fahrenheit. A few weeks ago.
- Update
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Here is a view of the wildness....
The cover crop, Japanese Buckwheat, is quite tall as can be seen. Despite it looking like a mess, the Buckwheat is bringing in the Honeybees, Bumblebees, Parasitic Wasps, Butterflies of many varieties, among other flies I cannot identify. The other gardeners are benefiting from this choice of cover crop, whether they realize it or not. Also, I have Fava Beans growing in the patch and underneath the vines along the fence on the south side of the garden. I recently broadcasted some Alyssum Seed underneath the vines on the south side, along with Organic (non-GMO) Hard Red Wheat (which was planted in the larger patch). Time will tell what grows and what doesn't. If I can get the Alyssum to take, it, too, will bring with it beneficial insects into the garden for all to benefit from.
Yesterday I threw out a few Southern Giant Mustard seeds which will improve moisture retention in the soil due in large part to its taproots which has the ability to penetrate more difficult soils. I built up the larger patch, it has been referred to by the garden manager as an 'excavation hole', but on my end of the garden after every hard rain, there is standing water for nearly a day after. Not many other places in the garden have such a feature unless there was an intended depression created by shovel work. The Mustard will improve soil quality in the long term.
The cover crop, Japanese Buckwheat, is quite tall as can be seen. Despite it looking like a mess, the Buckwheat is bringing in the Honeybees, Bumblebees, Parasitic Wasps, Butterflies of many varieties, among other flies I cannot identify. The other gardeners are benefiting from this choice of cover crop, whether they realize it or not. Also, I have Fava Beans growing in the patch and underneath the vines along the fence on the south side of the garden. I recently broadcasted some Alyssum Seed underneath the vines on the south side, along with Organic (non-GMO) Hard Red Wheat (which was planted in the larger patch). Time will tell what grows and what doesn't. If I can get the Alyssum to take, it, too, will bring with it beneficial insects into the garden for all to benefit from.
Yesterday I threw out a few Southern Giant Mustard seeds which will improve moisture retention in the soil due in large part to its taproots which has the ability to penetrate more difficult soils. I built up the larger patch, it has been referred to by the garden manager as an 'excavation hole', but on my end of the garden after every hard rain, there is standing water for nearly a day after. Not many other places in the garden have such a feature unless there was an intended depression created by shovel work. The Mustard will improve soil quality in the long term.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Update photos from mid-April 2012
Here is a cluster of photos from April 16 2012.
(These 3 photos feature my 3-year old La Crescent grape vine.)
Here is a cluster from April 19, 2012.
(The first photo is of the young Japanese Buckwheat I am using as a cover crop. The goal is to always improve the soil by increasing biomass, have something growing to compete with undesirable weeds, attract beneficial insects, and with other cover crops attempt to improve the nitrogen levels - Fava Beans, for example. Just best to never have a barren soil at any stage of the off or on-season, which implies my growing interest in utilizing summer and winter cover crops.)
(More photos of the La Crescent grape vine.)
(These 3 photos feature my 3-year old La Crescent grape vine.)
Here is a cluster from April 19, 2012.
(The first photo is of the young Japanese Buckwheat I am using as a cover crop. The goal is to always improve the soil by increasing biomass, have something growing to compete with undesirable weeds, attract beneficial insects, and with other cover crops attempt to improve the nitrogen levels - Fava Beans, for example. Just best to never have a barren soil at any stage of the off or on-season, which implies my growing interest in utilizing summer and winter cover crops.)
(More photos of the La Crescent grape vine.)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Some Frost Damage
......to the Buckwheat cover crop only!!!! The grape vines survived the past 2 nights of 35 and 34 degree temperatures. I read a headline that a vineyard in Tennessee, perhaps a few even resorted to such means, hired a crew to fly helicopters over stands of vines to keep the cool air from damaging crop. I don't have the capacity or need to do such things, but interesting to read about none the less.
Here are a few iPod photos from Friday April 6 2012:
Lots going on with the grapevines. I was a little worried that I would lose at least 2 from this past winter, but I actually didn't lose any. The varietal in focus was the Chambourcin, it is a hybrid variety and I guess it came out in the early 1960's. I have 3 young Chambourcin vines in one location and another vine of the same variety in another. It is a later growing varietal, this is all documented in the literature that is available when researching, which I only recalled after I finally saw growth a few days ago. When I initially saw so little growth I went into a minor sadness, but lo and behold, the grapevines fought through the mild winter and produced new shoots!!!! I am delighted, absolutely ecstatic. Last year I started with 11 cuttings of the Chambourcin grape vines that I had purchased on the market. I was able to get 4 viable plants out of 11 woody cuttings. 36.36 percent success rate.
As I mentioned, I experienced a bit of frost damage last night and probably the previous night. The lowest temps were from 5AM until 8AM. The grape vines were fine. The cover crop I am using, the Buckwheat, experienced a bit of damage. The Fava Beans survived well enough. Here at home where I am starting a few cuttings, I covered them with very large plastic bags, a very functional apparatus in deflecting the cold temperatures.
In addition to this, I believe 4 vines of Concord grapes have been bequeathed to me at the Community Garden as the original owner hasn't returned to garden. It has been told to me that he is studying Viticulture and was hoping to get into the industry after his studies. Those are at least 3-year old vines. I pruned them quite a bit, but the co-leader of the garden had the idea of training them along the front fence to allow them to fan out and present a nice spread or texture other than chain-link. They have many, many inflorescenses which will eventually turn into fruit after flowering.
That's enough for now. More to come. Maybe updates on Chardonel, Norton and other cuttings in the next bulletins.
Here are a few iPod photos from Friday April 6 2012:
Lots going on with the grapevines. I was a little worried that I would lose at least 2 from this past winter, but I actually didn't lose any. The varietal in focus was the Chambourcin, it is a hybrid variety and I guess it came out in the early 1960's. I have 3 young Chambourcin vines in one location and another vine of the same variety in another. It is a later growing varietal, this is all documented in the literature that is available when researching, which I only recalled after I finally saw growth a few days ago. When I initially saw so little growth I went into a minor sadness, but lo and behold, the grapevines fought through the mild winter and produced new shoots!!!! I am delighted, absolutely ecstatic. Last year I started with 11 cuttings of the Chambourcin grape vines that I had purchased on the market. I was able to get 4 viable plants out of 11 woody cuttings. 36.36 percent success rate.
As I mentioned, I experienced a bit of frost damage last night and probably the previous night. The lowest temps were from 5AM until 8AM. The grape vines were fine. The cover crop I am using, the Buckwheat, experienced a bit of damage. The Fava Beans survived well enough. Here at home where I am starting a few cuttings, I covered them with very large plastic bags, a very functional apparatus in deflecting the cold temperatures.
In addition to this, I believe 4 vines of Concord grapes have been bequeathed to me at the Community Garden as the original owner hasn't returned to garden. It has been told to me that he is studying Viticulture and was hoping to get into the industry after his studies. Those are at least 3-year old vines. I pruned them quite a bit, but the co-leader of the garden had the idea of training them along the front fence to allow them to fan out and present a nice spread or texture other than chain-link. They have many, many inflorescenses which will eventually turn into fruit after flowering.
That's enough for now. More to come. Maybe updates on Chardonel, Norton and other cuttings in the next bulletins.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Using Rooting Hormone For First Time
I just rec'd Norton and Chardonel grape vine cuttings in the mail today. I planted the Chardonel cuttings and enlisted the assistance of the product by Schultz called 'Take Root'. I feel pretty confident about this attempt at growing from cuttings.......more to come!!!!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Pulse, Pulse. Heartbeat, Heartbeat.
Back!!!
It is Tuesday March 6th and the weather has been deceptive. I am not sure how to describe it, but I was at a friends house yesterday and their tree's buds had lost their protective coverings yesterday. Not a very scientific description but telling none the less. Dogwood Trees are pushing the beginning pieces of leaves in some areas of the region. Smaller shrubs are pushing forth leaves.
Lots going on. With it being a new year, I am no different than any other avid gardener: I have new ideas and amended plans. Not entire replacement of plans, but us gardeners tend to always build and build and build on ideas. Having said as much, it is true that my ideas regarding the grape vines and the garden, in general, are getting fleshed out further. The spring winds are here. More and more days above 40, 45 degrees. Today the temp hit 75 degrees Fahrenheit!!!! It doesn't seem normal. I keep hearing about the Easter freeze of April 2007 and the toll it took on so many crops, so I am not getting excited until late April comes around when I think the threat of frost/freezes has passed from our reach.
Been messing with lots of pots and seed starters and potting soil. Sphagnum Peat Moss has been near and dear these past few weeks.
I could probably write on and on, but I'll simply just post a few photos seed starts that I have. The seeds are so vigorous (and poor seed placement/planning on my part, by the way - I over planted due to past failures) that I have had to lift off the plastic dome that comes with seed starter trays that one can get at the local hardware store. Historically I have not done the best with seeds. Cuttings seem to fit my skill set more appropriately, but I am trying new things.
I bring pretty unremarkable photographs of Dinosaur Kale and Swiss Chard seedlings. There are two very tiny Common Milkweed starts as well. These photos are evidence that these seed starter trays do in fact work remarkably. I will use them from here on out, as long as I am a tiny operation as I am now.
In the foreground with the reddish stalks are clearly the Swiss Chard seedlings. Behind, as can be seen from the following photos, exists the Dinosaur Kale seedlings.
We'll see how this little experiment goes. I am concerned about the delicate balance between over-watering and/or under-watering (dehydration), now that the plastic covering is off which created the greenhouse effect and kept the moisture in.
The grapevines are still dormant. None of the vines seem anywhere close to bud break, for which I am very grateful as I know there will be a hard frost before long.
It is Tuesday March 6th and the weather has been deceptive. I am not sure how to describe it, but I was at a friends house yesterday and their tree's buds had lost their protective coverings yesterday. Not a very scientific description but telling none the less. Dogwood Trees are pushing the beginning pieces of leaves in some areas of the region. Smaller shrubs are pushing forth leaves.
Lots going on. With it being a new year, I am no different than any other avid gardener: I have new ideas and amended plans. Not entire replacement of plans, but us gardeners tend to always build and build and build on ideas. Having said as much, it is true that my ideas regarding the grape vines and the garden, in general, are getting fleshed out further. The spring winds are here. More and more days above 40, 45 degrees. Today the temp hit 75 degrees Fahrenheit!!!! It doesn't seem normal. I keep hearing about the Easter freeze of April 2007 and the toll it took on so many crops, so I am not getting excited until late April comes around when I think the threat of frost/freezes has passed from our reach.
Been messing with lots of pots and seed starters and potting soil. Sphagnum Peat Moss has been near and dear these past few weeks.
I could probably write on and on, but I'll simply just post a few photos seed starts that I have. The seeds are so vigorous (and poor seed placement/planning on my part, by the way - I over planted due to past failures) that I have had to lift off the plastic dome that comes with seed starter trays that one can get at the local hardware store. Historically I have not done the best with seeds. Cuttings seem to fit my skill set more appropriately, but I am trying new things.
I bring pretty unremarkable photographs of Dinosaur Kale and Swiss Chard seedlings. There are two very tiny Common Milkweed starts as well. These photos are evidence that these seed starter trays do in fact work remarkably. I will use them from here on out, as long as I am a tiny operation as I am now.
In the foreground with the reddish stalks are clearly the Swiss Chard seedlings. Behind, as can be seen from the following photos, exists the Dinosaur Kale seedlings.
We'll see how this little experiment goes. I am concerned about the delicate balance between over-watering and/or under-watering (dehydration), now that the plastic covering is off which created the greenhouse effect and kept the moisture in.
The grapevines are still dormant. None of the vines seem anywhere close to bud break, for which I am very grateful as I know there will be a hard frost before long.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
First Freeze!!!!! Oct 19, 2011
Happens every Autumn: the growing season must reach its inevitable conclusion.
I am in St Louis right now but am told that Columbia, Missouri will hit freezing temps between 1AM and 9 AM.
Brief update. Lots going on in other areas of life, but all of the vines for this endeavor are prepared for the winter. Will be setting up endposts in the next two weeks - a warming trend is coming in these next few days after the frost.
I am in St Louis right now but am told that Columbia, Missouri will hit freezing temps between 1AM and 9 AM.
Brief update. Lots going on in other areas of life, but all of the vines for this endeavor are prepared for the winter. Will be setting up endposts in the next two weeks - a warming trend is coming in these next few days after the frost.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Man from Chicago sets sail for a different pasture - Columbia, Missouri
I moved from Southeast Logan Square last week. Actually I will be moving my headquarters to Missouri for the next few years. I am not there yet, but I will be in Missouri by the beginning of August 2011. Hopefully I will have my vines in the ground some time soon after. It is funny, since I am not intending to harvest, crush, press, or ferment with any of my own grapes yet, I am still finding myself worried about getting the young vines in the ground and nearly established before the autumn weather arrives. And it is only July 9th!!!!! I worry too much about this. It's crazy.
I spent 8 1/2 years in this apartment. I lived for one year prior in the western suburb of La Grange Park, Illinois before moving to Southeast Logan Square. Chicago was a fun place to live during this era. I was involved in many great endeavors and look forward to furthering some of them and starting others as well.
The neighbor to the east of Illinois, the lovely state of Michigan, is now being referred to as the 'Napa Valley of the Midwest'. To leave is very difficult, as I am only getting started. But I depart from this region for good reasons.
Can a city boy make a go at this? Will he spend 2 million to make a million? Will he be able to fight off the pesky Japanese Beetle? Is it possible to stop and change the course of one's career (in the mid-30's) and pull off a miracle? Find out......in 12 years!!! Stay tuned to this channel (it may change because Google recently indicated they won't be involved with Blogger much longer) and also to the Conejo Loco Vineyards Tumblr website for further exciting and mundane news, media, updates, and otherwise poorly written English expression (most often manifest as a run-on sentence).
Now I better log off and begin learning about how the Germans settled in Missouri and quickly began setting up their vineyards in the 19th Century.
Remember, friends, the first occasion to buy wine will probably be around October 2018 (the 2017 vintage). It will undoubtedly be a small batch, but I expect it will amount to more than just 5 gallons of wine. It's coming along. Inertia. Movement. Things are rolling along.
Now if anyone wants to donate one acre of sloping land that is southern-facing, please contact me at the e-mail address listed on this blog. I promise that we could come to agree to a case of wine a year or something on that order/or anything manageable, for the exchange. Two adults can figure out an arrangement, undoubtedly, I am sure.
Until you can buy wine from me, I recommend the following places to consider:
Sleepy Creek Vineyards (Fairmount, Illinois)
One Acre Wine (Napa Valley, California)
Domaine Berrien Cellars and Winery (Berrien Springs, MI)
Emeritus Vineyards (Sebastopol, California)
 |
| Where the dream of growing grapes grew. Birthed in St. Louis, Missouri. Developed the idea while living in Chicago, Illinois. |
 |
| The bridge to the south. Southeast Logan Square (Chicago, Illinois) |
The neighbor to the east of Illinois, the lovely state of Michigan, is now being referred to as the 'Napa Valley of the Midwest'. To leave is very difficult, as I am only getting started. But I depart from this region for good reasons.
Can a city boy make a go at this? Will he spend 2 million to make a million? Will he be able to fight off the pesky Japanese Beetle? Is it possible to stop and change the course of one's career (in the mid-30's) and pull off a miracle? Find out......in 12 years!!! Stay tuned to this channel (it may change because Google recently indicated they won't be involved with Blogger much longer) and also to the Conejo Loco Vineyards Tumblr website for further exciting and mundane news, media, updates, and otherwise poorly written English expression (most often manifest as a run-on sentence).
Now I better log off and begin learning about how the Germans settled in Missouri and quickly began setting up their vineyards in the 19th Century.
Remember, friends, the first occasion to buy wine will probably be around October 2018 (the 2017 vintage). It will undoubtedly be a small batch, but I expect it will amount to more than just 5 gallons of wine. It's coming along. Inertia. Movement. Things are rolling along.
Now if anyone wants to donate one acre of sloping land that is southern-facing, please contact me at the e-mail address listed on this blog. I promise that we could come to agree to a case of wine a year or something on that order/or anything manageable, for the exchange. Two adults can figure out an arrangement, undoubtedly, I am sure.
Until you can buy wine from me, I recommend the following places to consider:
Sleepy Creek Vineyards (Fairmount, Illinois)
One Acre Wine (Napa Valley, California)
Domaine Berrien Cellars and Winery (Berrien Springs, MI)
Emeritus Vineyards (Sebastopol, California)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It takes a family to raise Robin chicks
Short on sleep, this is what I have to post for tonight. This shot, which was a gift from the avian creature, was taken a few days ago - probably Wed May 11, 2011. I thought there was only the mama hanging around and running the show, but she does have help from another bird. I am assuming it is a male of the species. Pretty cool. They bark quite loud when myself and my roommate, and building mates walk out the door. They only fly 10 feet away, but they definitely don't feel safe with a walking human nearby. They abandon shop immediately and then proceed to screech at us in their own birdspeak.
Also, do yourself a favor and watch the documentary 'Merlove', if you are American. It'll provide a little needed corrective to the lens that pop culture has thrust upon us. The Europeans seem to be immune to the malady discussed in the documentary. As well, there seems to be a movie coming out called 'Que Syrah Shiraz'. I'll try to track some more info down on this one.
- Out!!!
Also, do yourself a favor and watch the documentary 'Merlove', if you are American. It'll provide a little needed corrective to the lens that pop culture has thrust upon us. The Europeans seem to be immune to the malady discussed in the documentary. As well, there seems to be a movie coming out called 'Que Syrah Shiraz'. I'll try to track some more info down on this one.
- Out!!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Das Wetter
The Chicagoland area had a little thunderstorm roll on through today. Some areas received upwards of 4 inches of rain! Yowsers!
(See for yourself)
I really like that website. But seriously, as Phil Collins was fond of saying, the gardens needed the rain. Even my transplant strawberries were getting affected. In their first few weeks in the new location that I have them in, it is clear that they communicate with droopiness when things aren't right. Despite a very wet April, this past week with the warmer temperatures has really dried some of the areas out.
Paying attention to Tom Skilling's Twitter feed was pretty cool today. He is a modern marvel with his interest in weather. The man gets excited about the weather, Cantore is pretty awesome as well.
(See for yourself)
I really like that website. But seriously, as Phil Collins was fond of saying, the gardens needed the rain. Even my transplant strawberries were getting affected. In their first few weeks in the new location that I have them in, it is clear that they communicate with droopiness when things aren't right. Despite a very wet April, this past week with the warmer temperatures has really dried some of the areas out.
Paying attention to Tom Skilling's Twitter feed was pretty cool today. He is a modern marvel with his interest in weather. The man gets excited about the weather, Cantore is pretty awesome as well.
Breaking temperature records in Chicago...
This is going to be a bit of a housekeeping entry.
- Bird thought to be injured
- Moon over Chicagoland
- Nest came after the bird
- Video of possibly eery night sky
- Dandelions
- Temperatures in Chicagoland
And, the bird nest:
Greetings. I realized today, don't know why I would forget this, that I actually have 6 viable grape vines growing in Southeast Logan Square Chicago, Illinois. The varietals are, once again:
- Mars Seedless
- Syrah (not supposed to be growing here with temperatures like we get in the winter)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (not supposed to be growing here either)
Two of these varietals I bought by listening to my heart and not my head (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon). The Mars Seedless I bought at Lowe's Hardware because it was already a developed vine, unbeknownst to me that it was an inter-specific hybrid brought about in 1986 by the lovely folks at the University of Arkansas (Ar-Kansas as the folk musicians say).
And about that moon...
Today Tuesday May 10, 2011 in Chicago, the temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit at O'Hare International airport. Talk about craziness, but it was a lovely day. I even gave some of the plants outside a little drink from the garden hose. This temperature apparently broke a record for April 17, which has not been breached since 1896. Big deal, for sure.
As I sign off right now at this ripe hour of dawn, the current temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The world is alive here in Southeast Logan Square. Birds even like it here at the apartment. The next blogulation is going to involve the most recent photos of the vines on-site here at this urban appellation.
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