Vineyard Initiation and Operation

I was responsible for starting and managing a small vineyard in Western MA, which I continue to operate and maintain. This included extensive research into plant viability and care, site preparation, planting and care, trellis construction, and constant maintenance. In the future, this will also require harvesting and winemaking.

Problem

I was asked to assist with the initialization of a vineyard in Western MA, on a small piece of property with potential for successful crop vitality. This required a significant amount of self-taught knowledge regarding ideal growing conditions, varietals suited to the area, proper maintenance techniques and timing, and numerous onsite hours. An important physical aspect of this project was determining both the proper setting for planting and the ideal plant selection to provide the best conditions for successful crop yield.

Actions

Extensive research into grape varietal viability
Select and prepare the land for planting
Establish and plant 72 grape plants of 9 varieties
Plan, select, and install an initial watering system
Continuous upkeep through mowing, weeding, pruning, and guiding each plant
Design and install a trellis system
Pest management and preventative measures

Results

After a little over a year of growth and continuous upkeep, the vineyard is healthy and growth is on track. Some of the varietals have proven more successful than others, but another year or so of monitoring and maintenance will confirm which have proper viability for harvesting. The frontload of work and research I performed has led to numerous successful plantings, and the next phase of harvesting and turning the grapes into wine can begin next year.