Farming can be extractive or regenerative. The choice matters.
Extractive (conventional) farming seeks to maximize output at the expense of ecosystem health, while regenerative farming prioritizes ecosystem restoration. We farm regeneratively, in part because forecasts estimate that global topsoils could deplete before the end of this century, and industrial agriculture contributes up to 25% of emissions related to our climate crisis. We can do it differently, and we can do it in a way that’s better for the planet.
There are currently fewer than 30 vineyards in the United States that are Regenerative Organic Certified. We also have Organic (CCOF) and Demeter Biodynamic certifications, making us just the eighth vineyard in the world to attain all three certifications. While we’re certainly not the only farmers who take an intentionally triple-bottom-line approach, there’s a stark divide between farming that harms the world and farming that heals it — we’re committed to the latter.
Here’s a partial list of the ways we farm differently:
Pay a living wage for all third-party farm labor (currently the only third-party labor we contract is for harvest picking). The Framework for Regenerative Organic Certified (Appendix section A-3, page 45) defines living wage as “A combination of wages and benefits that can provide for food, water, housing, education, health care, transport, clothing, and other essential needs, plus a 10% allowance for unexpected events and/or savings.” We use MIT’s Living Wage Calculator for Klickitat County and add 10%.
Manage a small flock of sheep (whom we’ve dubbed “Snowden Sweeties”) to control undervine groundcover and keep vegetation low and fire safe around our house… plus their poop is great for the soil, and they spread it themselves.
Augment ruminant droppings with locally sourced compost that’s organic certified. We’ve already added over 35 tons per acre in an effort to build a thriving community of microorganisms and increase the water-holding capacity of our soil.
Prune following the Simonit and Sirch method to grow healthier and more resilient plants. We want our vines to be alive long after we’re dead.
As much as possible, apply integrated pest-management (IPM) and nutritional sprays aerially using a battery-powered agricultural drone, reducing soil compaction and diesel usage. All spray ingredients are organic and biodynamic approved.
Rely on bird-safe lasers instead of plastic netting or sound canons to protect our ripe fruit. We plant spicy radishes to dissuade voles from digging around the vines’ roots.
Plant native flora around the property, including a 1500-tree food-forest habitat adjacent to our vineyard, and overseed the vineyard and surrounding field with pollinator plants. Then we don’t mow during the growing season. It’s a bug heaven.
Use biodegradable paper tie tape to secure our vine canes against the wind. The plastic tie tape we use to attach vine trunks to rebar rods lasts for a few years before falling off, at which point we pick it up.
Concoct our own fermented salmon sauce using leftovers from the local fishing community. It’s simultaneously revolting (to us) and immensely beneficial (for the vines).
