Category: <span>Farms & Vineyards</span>
Sustainability is not a Trend
Sustainability is not a trend, it is becoming a cultural shift. - Natural Marketing Institute SIP Certification has authenticated sustainable vineyard farming practices throughout California since 2008 for small and large organizations alike. SIP Certified sets the gold standard for sustainability with independently verified, practice-based rules addressing the entire farm from habitat conservation to air quality; water conservation to energy efficiency; economic stability to care of farmworkers. As demand for eco-friendly products increases with consumers, environmentally aware restaurants, and retailers such as Whole Foods, the SIP Certified seal provides a communication piece letting customers know... [Read more...]
Irrigation System Evaluations Cost Share
SIP Certified vineyards must test the irrigation system for distribution uniformity at least every five years by monitoring emitter outflows and pressure differences (Standard 4.2.1). Through a grant provided by PG&E, the Vineyard Team, developers of SIP Certified, will provide a cost share program for Irrigation Evaluations to assess distribution uniformity of irrigation systems. Evaluations will assess a system's uniformity of applied water, determine the causes of non-uniformity, and provide recommendations for improvement based on the protocol developed by the Irrigation Training & Research Center at Cal Poly. Check the timing of your last distribution uniformity... [Read more...]
Paso Robles Winery Makes Sustainable Changes Due to Drought
Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment. "What is Sustainability. " EPA. n.p. n.d. Being sustainable means that we are always striving to to better, always adapting new technology, always evolving with our environment. Sustainability means using science and research to make informed decisions; irrigating when plants need water, fertilizing when plants need nutrients, and communicating best practices with farm-workers and neighbors. SIP Certified farmers have a legacy in their vineyards. A legacy they want to... [Read more...]
The Story Behind Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
We are proud to work with SIP Certified Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, one of a handful of vineyards that participated in the 2008 pilot program. Vault 29 recently posted a "Wine Mic Monday" from Nadia Zilkha of Laetitia Vineyards and Winery. SIP looks at the whole farm, addressing the people, the planet and prosperity. I love when Nadia addresses the second "P", saying that her father, Selim Zilkha, "...is someone who really cares for the well-being of his employees...". SIP Certified farms like Laetitia know that each worker is a valuable resource. Laetitia is a... [Read more...]
Educational Scholarships for Farm Workers
The Sustainability In Practice (SIP)™ Certification program evolved from two decades of effort to understand and implement sustainable farming practices. The developer of SIP, the Vineyard Team, continues that mission today with farm worker education, field research, SIP Certification for sustainably grown vineyards, and the upcoming Earth Day Food & Wine Weekend. The Earth Day April 18, 2015 main event at SIP Certified Castoro Cellars delivers a top quality food and wine experience paired with a casual, low-key atmosphere, all while celebrating the passionate people behind a sustainable food movement. Proceeds from this event directly... [Read more...]
Laetitia & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
You hear a lot of talk about Integrated Pest Management (IMP) in vineyards. So what is IPM? The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu) defines IPM as: Integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target... [Read more...]
Sustainability – Served Two Ways
[caption id="attachment_4570" align="alignleft" width="300"] After hand thinning the canopy, shoots are left to decompose on the vineyard floor, adding organic matter to the soil.[/caption] Since its founding in 1972, Scheid Vineyards has been committed to sustainable vineyard practices. Irrigation technology helps to reduce water usage; planting of a variety of cover crops between vineyard rows helps to enrich the land, prevent erosion, and promote the sustainable health of the vineyard. During a recent visit to a few of Scheid’s vineyards, viticulturist Justin Perino described two vineyard blocks with very different management goals on the same... [Read more...]
Tractors, Tailgates, and Tri Tip – Oh My!
Even though the vines are dormant and vineyard work is relatively slow (aside from that little task known as pruning), this marks a busy time for us in the Vineyard Team office as we prepare for our core outreach and education activities. Yes, it's time for tractors, tailgates, and tritips. Sure, our Sustinable Ag Expo, Earth Day Food and Wine Festival, and SIP Certification program receive a lot of attention. But underneath all of that, is our core outreach and education programs that connect growers, technical advisors, and researchers to share information on bugs, irrigation,... [Read more...]
What’s Happening in the Vineyard – Riverbench Winery
Shared by Laura Mohseni at Riverbench Winery: Some people like massage. Others like a good bubble bath. Some people sit by the fire with a glass of wine and a good book (actually, that works for me, too). But in my opinion, relaxing is all about having thirty thousand little honey bees buzzing around me at once. Before you try committing me to the looney bin, think on this. I just so happen to have the nicest bees in the world. I first brought them to Riverbench two years ago after being trained as an... [Read more...]
Meet the SIP Farmers: Jim Stollberg
[caption id="attachment_3760" align="alignright" width="300"] Jim Stollberg of Maverick Farming[/caption] We all enjoy getting to know people better; whether it’s interesting facts, thoughts, or humorous tidbits. So we came up with some questions to ask the farmers of SIP that we feel will give us a more interesting view of them behind the soil and vines. First up is Jim Stollberg, the manager at Maverick Farming. Classic rock or classic country? Country Favorite spot in the vineyard? Sorting fruit from the hand harvest crew. We get the satisfaction of seeing all of our hard work for... [Read more...]