El Nino warning issued by NOAA

A transition from El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral is expected in the next couple of months, with a greater than 90% chance of El Niño persisting into the Northern Hemisphere winter.

El Niño is likely to form during the May-July season and persist into the winter. The combination of a forecasted third westerly wind event in mid-late May, and high levels of above-average oceanic heat content, means that a potentially significant El Niño is on the horizon. What that means for the earth is potentially rapidly escalating air and ocean temperatures, less hurricane activity in the Atlantic but more cyclone activity in the Pacific. Essentially, it's a bad omen for climate change for the next few years which may push us over the tipping point. 

While at least a weak El Niño is likely, the range of possibilities at the end of the year (November-January) includes an 80% chance of at least a moderate El Niño to a ~55% chance of a strong El Niño. It is still possible the tropical atmosphere does not couple with the ocean, and El Niño fails to materialize (5-10% chance). In summary, a transition from ENSO-neutral is expected in the next couple of months, with a greater than 90% chance of El Niño persisting into the Northern Hemisphere winter.

This discussion is a consolidated effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA’s National Weather Service, and their funded institutions. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions are updated weekly on the Climate Prediction Center website (El Niño/La Niña Current Conditions and Expert Discussions).

The walls are going up (or down)

Our shed is being built in a very strong configuration. It has steel beams on a concrete base with poured concrete walls above which will be corrugated steel. It should withstand the winds we get, and it should outlive us by far. 

They poured the concrete base for the walls yesterday. Today, they completed 1/4 of the concrete wall which goes to about 6 feet in height. So I assume it will take 4 days at least to complete the concrete walls, depending on how well they set overnight, as they are poured into a frame between the steel girders. A very interesting process.

Then, the team, and they are really impressive, will complete the top of the walls and the roof before the concrete for the floor is poured. That goes last. 

Finally, we've decided that the topsoil dug out should be spread over the field to even it out as it has dips and recesses. That's I think the easiest solution. It won't look nice this year as well have to reseed the grass, but it will be ok in the long run. 

I wonder how much it will all cost in the end. 

The amazing thing is that you cannot see it from anywhere on the property except from above, in the vineyard and the field. You can't see any of it from the polytunnel, the house or the road. That's how well the trees we planted screen the land. Very proud of that.

Cannot wait to start moving stuff into the shed and out of my life. 

Solar power

I just wanted to post this chart to show why it's possible to grow things outdoors in Ireland. It’s about how much solar energy is received by latitude due to the tilt of the Earth. If you’ve been a grower for a long time you know that the peak months of June and July are when plants really motor away; this is because of the amount of sunlight they receive across a 24-hour period. 

The graph shows the energy that the equator gets (blue line), the other lines are latitudes moving away from the equator. When those lines cross or go above the equatorial line, it means that latitude is getting the same or more solar energy than at the equator across a 24-hour period. For us from about mid-May until late August we get more insolation than anywhere along the equator, which is why they are the peak months for growth and it’s all down to the length of the day. The equatorial day is nearly always 12 hours long; in summer here in Ireland, we get nearly 18 hours of sunlight. That is why we can grow so successfully outside in the summer. It’s a short period, but productive!

Progress on the shed

Today, Mini-Mix poured concrete for the steel supports that will be holding up the structure of our shed. We've had a massive truck bringing in loads of rock gravel for the foundation and surrounding driveway. Apparently, they changed their minds about the gravel under the concrete platform. They were going to skip it but now they are adding it in. I can't wait for this to be completed. Apparently, they lay the concrete slab last after the shed is all built, presumably so the heavy equipment doesn't damage the cement. It's a moving target, methinks.

Meanwhile, Ghostie for some reason loves rolling on the gravel and has turned completely filthy gray. No longer a ghost, she now resembles a shadow. 

My Irish gate is now ready to use, and I had the privilege of being the first to pass through. It's a fine gate. Curiously, the Rondo is way ahead of all the vines in leafing this year. I don't remember that happening in years past. And Alex has finished installing all the overhead wires, so the vineyard is now pretty much complete. I nixed adding more vines or more fruit trees. No more work, thank you very much!

Daria's Vineyard gets an Irish Gate

What's an Irish gate? It's a gate to a field without a fence. You see when I wasn't paying attention, Alex removed part of the fence below the vineyard. He had our gardener remove the blackberry patch at the top of the orchard and with it the fence. So the vineyard is no longer fenced-in to the left, only to the right. And, of course, when putting in a gate, why would you align it with the fence on the right when you can align it with the new tensioning post on the left? Right! So we have a freestanding gate that anyone can walk around. 

Meanwhile, the albarino has finally had bud burst. We lost four vines and there are a few iffy ones, but they are alive.  

The Rondo is leafing robustly, the Chardonnay looks grand and the Pinot Noir are all good. Let's now hope for a great season! 

The work on the winemaking shed is proceeding well now and it looks like they'll be pouring concrete this week. That means the crew that will assemble the shed will begin by the end of the week if all proceeds as planned. You can see the dimensions of the shed in the excavated site surrounded by road surface. The maintenance will go 3/4 the way around the shed. The side of the shed will be up against the land. We'll be able to drive straight through in one set of doors and out the other, as well as along the side of the shed. The 'precipice' on the left above 'The Avenue' will be planted with trees that will grow tall to shade the shed and protect it from view. The roof will be green to blend in with the landscape. 

I cannot wait to move stuff in there and out of the house and garage. Hallelujah! 

Albarino bud burst 29-04-2023

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

Rondo

Grazing sheep in vineyards

Far out. A vineyard in California is raising the height of its vines to enable grazing of sheep year-round. They also think it's going to help mitigate the effects of climate change. The modified trellis system at Halter Ranch will set the cordon height at 60 inches. The drip irrigation line will sit at 36 inches, allowing the sheep to move freely throughout the vineyards. Naturally, what the sheep eat keeps the weeds in control and will also fertilize the soil. 

There's nothing new about using sheep to control the land in a vineyard. What is new is calling it biodynamic farming and introducing biodiversity as a new concept. How did humans ever let monoculture take hold? 

Amazing weather

Rondo is furthest ahead

We have had multiple days of sunny, occasionally windy but generally warm, weather. The vines are coming on very well. Alex spent the day straightening stems, replacing uprights, and pinching buds. He also mowed the vineyard for the first time this season. It really needed it. 

Meanwhile, I am trying to learn more every day, but we've been so busy with commitments that it's been hard to find the time. Now that I have backed off from my OCC commitments and have settled my Ukrainian families in their new homes, I am hoping to have more time for me and my happy place gardens. 

The Albarino vines are mostly alive but not thriving and at least four plants are dead. I will cut shoots from the healthy plants and see if I can replace the ones that died on their own rootstocks. 

Solaris

Chardonnay

Pinot Noir has brown spots on leaves

Albarino still tightly bound