Thursday 12 May 2022

Polytyunnel clean-up


We took the opportunity in the fine weather to disperse all the plants that had overwintered in the polytunnel. It took a lot of work. A full load in the RTV and multiple wheelbarrow loads came out of there. Now I feel we can move around and things can grow happily in the space. There was a lot more in there than I thought. Of course, we promptly got two days of gale-force winds which have knocked over a good proportion of the plants we brought out. We were supposed to be launching and delivering our boat in the next few days but that has been postponed. 


Vitis 'Vanessa' is doing great. She's growing vigorously. Can't wait to see the first grapes. Which reminds me, we still have not bottled our 2021 vintage and we need to do that right away. Have to put it on the calendar or it won't happen. There's always something. 


I have most of the beds in the polytunnel planted. Here's the rotation plan. The stuff on the left is in the raised beds, the stuff on the right is either in pots or planted directly into the soil. I'll post a few pictures as stuff grows. 

Rocket

Lettuce

Scallions

Beetroot

Scallions

Swiss chard

Garlic

Endive

 

Kiwiberry

 

Potting table

Sink

RTV

 

 

 

Cucumbers

Melons

Pumpkin

Courgettes

Sweet corn

Tomatoes

Basil

Carrots

Swiss chard

Beetroot

Kiwi

 

Grape

 

Peaches

Orange

Lemon

Mango

Avocado

Fig

Olive

Apple (Rockit)

 

 

 

Peas

Beans

Spinach

Oregano

Peppers

Parsley

Dill

 

Broccoli

Cabbage

 

 

Passionflower

Passionfruit

 



Tuesday 10 May 2022

Oysters and wine



As we happen to own a vineyard and have shares in the Clew Bay Oyster Coop, this article was super interesting. It tells of a winemaker cooperating with an oyster farm to pair a white wine with oysters and donate the proceeds to clean up the bay. What a great idea. Maybe we'll have to 'borrow' it. 

Cooper Mountain Vineyards and Hama Hama Oyster Company Announce the Release of Oyster White LD. The image is 'borrowed' from them. Except they have paired only with the Pacific gigas oyster. I think we'll need two different wines, both white. One to pair with the locally cultivated Crassostrea gigas as well as one to pair with the much more flavourful European oyster, Ostrea edulis. I think I'll set to work on the research right away. 


Sunday 8 May 2022

Skyrocketing costs



Shortages in glass have become the number 1 issue in winemaking. Due to pandemic supply issues, sourcing bottles has become problematic and prices of glass have reportedly quadrupled. Even worse, shipping has gone through the roof in the US and around the world so, even if you can source the bottles, getting them delivered is insane. From $1,200 to ship $50,000 worth of goods in 2019 the costs have increased to $20,000 to ship the same consignment in 2022. 

This conundrum is fueling the drive to sell ultra premium wine boxed. Out of necessity comes innovation. The boxes are easily recycled and some are even reusable. The bladders keep the wine from exposure to air. Despite the reputation that boxed wine is cheap wine, it's actually not a bad option, except for the plastic bladder. I wonder if anyone has conducted a study of whether the plastic leaches into the wine?


Thursday 5 May 2022

What a difference a week and some nice weather makes


The sun keeps shining but the rains don't come. Not much in the way of April showers, and now few in May so far as well. Lots of sun. But the vines are thriving, all except the Albarino.  The Pinot Noir are really encouraging. 


The vine in the polytunnel, Vanessa, is also doing well. Growing in leaps and bounds across the polytunnel support. 


The orchard is in full bloom, with cherries and pears already forming, and apples blooming profusely. I wonder if the size of the bloom is proportional to the size of the fruit. 













I can't wait for all the stuff in the polytunnel to reach maturity. Peaches, avocado, Rockit apple, lemon, orange, kiwi berry, passion fruit and more. The Outdoor kiwis 'Jenny' are going out this week. It makes me so happy. 

Today was the first day in a long time that I had no obligations. It felt like a respite, a holiday from responsibility. Thank you. I appreciate it. 

Friday 22 April 2022

Definite bud burst for Albarino

 


We've had several days of spectacular weather and I can confirm that today the Albarino was showing definite signs of bud burst. The orchard is in full bloom, except for the big apple tree. Several artichokes are almost ready to pick. 

It's all moving so fast, yet one forecaster has predicted an unusual cold snap for early May. So not to rush out and move plants out of the polytunnel yet. I hope the delicate leaves on the vines won't suffer too much. 

I did manage to power wash the patio and my life feels more orderly now. 







Thursday 21 April 2022

Albarino just maybe seeing bud burst

 




These are three different Albarino vines that are alive and what their buds look like. They are just barely bursting. Quite a few look dead, really dead. I am very disappointed with the Albarino. I really thought it would be our ticket. 

Meanwhile, the Rondo and Solaris are leafing with gusto. And the Pinot Noir is looking quite happy. So I can't be too disappointed as we'll still have an interesting harvest this year, I hope. And I'm hoping for a bumper crop of cherries and other fruit, too. 

Pinot Noir

Rondo

Solaris

Cherry


Monday 18 April 2022

Easter Weekend and more

Vineyard tour

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and, as we all were here for Meike's burial and life celebration on Inishdaff on Saturday, we decided to host an Easter lunch at our house on Sunday. The Grassmann's from Germany, the Cummings from the US, and Michael, Kirstin and Cormac all joined us for the day. Naturally, we had to take them on a tour of the polytunnel, gardens and vineyard. The weather was on-and-off rain, so we took several runs at it, but finally succeeded in getting to the top of the hill for the view over Clew Bay. 

Saturday we were lucky as the rain held off and the fierce wind stopped for the boat trips out to the island. We walked with the small casket of ashes out to the point from where Peter and Cormac ferried people across the inlet to the island of Inishdaff. We had a beautiful ceremony with Siobhan Garrigan officiating. About 100 people came out for the commemoration and it was lovely. Des Cafferkey played the Uillean pipes and flute. Then everyone descended on Ross house for finger food and libations. It was a fitting party for an extraordinary woman.  Meike would have loved it all. 

Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that grapes are now being grown in Norway, which is way up there. If they can, then we certainly should be able to. It's interesting that there are so many coming to the same conclusions as we did. And they are doing research and learning very much like we are. It's fascinating to be part of this movement toward sustainable, climate-appropriate agriculture.  

One thing I had not quite twigged onto is that we, being at high latitude, have more daylight hours than many on the Continent. So what we lose in heat, we may be making up in sunlight exposure. This year will be a remarkable telltale year. The vineyard having been established in 2015 means that the first ten vines are now 7 years old, the more recent Solaris and Chardonnay plantings are maturing,  and we've learned a bit about vine management in the interim. I'm firmly convinced that there is no 'right way' and that making mistakes doesn't count - unless, of course, you kill the vines. 

So we plod along. 

Happy Easter!

Ciara, Josepha, Emma, Florian, Celine, Kirstin,
Alex, Cormac, Tyrrell, Christopher, myself and Michael. 






Inishdaff

Saturday on Inishdaff