Just left the vineyard and at 10:00 we had recieved 4'' of rain.

April 2009

Work weekend at the Vineyard...Friday afternoon Tom arrived with his trencher. He is mighty proud of this 40 year old machine that always runs and never has problems. Well, after a complete engine overhaul...it did run. (Am sending this pic to Ditch Witch for their museum) He trenched a water line to the campsite and the cattle pens. Great job TGH!

That afternoon we pruned the 2007 vines and checked for freeze damage. We also planted trees to someday provide a windbreak on the west side of the vineyard. We also are making a patio area where we plugged bermuda and planted trees. We would like to build a fence around it so if you have any stockade fence sections or would like to volunteer to build a decorative fence.....more to come with May pictures.

OSU is / was conducting a research project for a certain insect. However, the plastic tags have not done well in the SW Oklahoma winds.

Just finished watering on 08'crop this afternoon. started water on 07' at 2:30 will continue till it rains.I am seeing grape flower clusters but we still have empty spaces on cordons. I think we will have permanant damage from the freeze. o8 plants are growing but we will have some bastard plants to remove. tommy said that the 2500 gal tank is the best buy so it will be purchased soon. lots of wind today more later.jbh

April 2009 Pictures Coming Soon!!!

sandyland vineyard sponsors a race car!

I talked it over with john, the current sandyland vineyard manager (his term expires 1-1-2010) and he agreed that it would be a great advertising tool to sponsor a race car to spread the word about the vineyard. everybody has heard of Nascar and what a great marketing tool that auto racing is and guess what, i just happen to have a car in my shop. john has agreed to purchase (with vineyard money) 4 racing tires and to supply me with my fuel for the year. i will be attending events at Little Sahara State Park, a couple of car shows and will be participating in the Shamrock 200 race event which will be held june 13-14 near Erick, Oklahoma.

anybody want to be a pitcrew member?

rain report

finally got some much needed moisture this weekend. my rain measuring collection device shows about 6 or 7 tenths, give or take one dead beetle bug that got trapped. brad moreau reported 6 tenths so we centainly got more rain than he did. hopefully the sand ranch got more, by the next weekend we should have quite a bit on new growth.

Watchful eye over sandyland Vineyard

look what i got a picture of this winter at the vineyard. only saw him once.