Dirt Farmer:
"A farmer who works on the soil, distinguished from one who operates a farm with hired hands or tenants."
Gentleman Farmer:
"A landowner who has a farm as part of his estate and who farms mainly for pleasure rather than for profit or sustenance."
I consider myself a proud dirt farmer.
For the first time ever, I hired people. We planted 2,900 plants Friday and another 4,000 plants yesterday. I didn't just watch or supervise. I had dug holes, then went back to dig them deeper to accommodate the long stem and roots. All but about four inches of it goes in the ground.
I worked long days. I suppose I did it for "pleasure" but it was hard work. The grape vineyard might eventually be profitable. The farm's pumice soil is unique. It creates extraordinarily fine particles. The grape roots will extract rich flavor notes. In five years we will know if those flavors are considered superior in the markets for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec wines.
Photos are by veteran photojournalist Tam Moore, and by my 15-year-old nephew, Liam Flenniken, who came down from Portland to help me plant grapes.
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| Photo: Liam Flenniken |
Liam Flenniken is an incoming sophomore at Lincoln High School in Portland. He is able-bodied, and has a great attitude and work ethic.
My neighbor, Collin Nelson, who is also installing a vineyard, is helping.
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| Photo: Tam Moore |
Grape with identifying clone type and lot number.
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| (Moore) |
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| (Moore) |
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| (Moore) |
A person places a plant in the empty holes a few minutes ahead of the planters.
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| (Moore) |
Each plant is placed by hand directly under a drip.
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| (Moore) |
Photo below shows crew planting. In the background is the house built by my grandparents a hundred years ago this year. Originally it was about 480 square feet for my two grandparents plus their five children. The house was a "kit house" and came on a truck from Montgomery Wards.
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| (Moore) |
I appreciate the Guest Posts I have been able to publish during this busy period of long days getting the vineyard planted. We get by with a little help from our friends.
3 comments:
Farmers know all the dirt.
“Gentleman” and “farmer” should both be understood as complimentary and not as pejorative when placed together. Farming is noble work, more noble perhaps when you are putting your back into it and not merely supervising. No doubt the sight of grapes will give you pleasure, as much or more than the melons did, and not sustenance as you are not a drinker.
Another compliment applies: entrepreneur, as you will not know the profitability of this endeavor for more than 5 years. Perhaps you could be called sage:
“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of life when he plants shade trees under which he knows he will never sit.” — various attributions but probably Quaker from the 1950s.
Good leaders (especially in the military) lead from “in front.”
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