The Story of Our Biodynamic Vineyard Biodynamics at Eco Terreno
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The Story of Our Biodynamic Vineyard Biodynamics at Eco Terreno We staunchly believe that in order to become understanding of water usage to planting a successful grape growers and winemakers, we substantial bee garden, all of our work has must first create a healthy native ecosystem directly translated into us becoming more for our vineyards. In fact we’re so passionate informed stewards of our resources. In about being dedicated caretakers of the restoring the natural riparian areas on land that we named ourselves our property along the Russian “Great wines are not produced, Eco Terreno, which means “of River’s native wild habitats they are carefully cultivated.” the land” in Italian and “Land we are joining the cultivated Ecology in Spanish.” This and the non-cultivated lands passion has led to our transition together. We believe that by Mark Lyon, WINEMAKER to organic and biodynamic actively promoting biodiversity farming practices that are necessary to in our vineyards, we will explicitly becoming strong regenerative growers. From produce grapes and wine that reflect the planting cover crops to developing a holistic full expression of our terroir. The Biodynamic farming standard was the world’s first organic standard, started in 1928, by farmers in Austria and Germany. Today farmers in more than in 42 countries practice Biodynamic farming. how biodynamic is different Biodynamics is a holistic approach to farming In short, biodynamic viticulture takes us developed in the 1920’s as a response to the beyond organic farming, to a system where failures of chemical agriculture. Founded the subtle influences of the seasons, the by scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner, movement of the moon and planets, and the ancient practices were married with an dynamic interplay of life above and below understanding of chemistry and plant ground coalesces in the grapes grown and physiology to create a system that treats wines made. The intention of the farmer the farm as a whole as a living individual and even the consumer are seen as affecting organism. The goal is to create a healthy the end product, creating influence on the environment, not only for the crop under quantum level. The end goal is one where cultivation, but for the people who work Healthy Farms make Healthy Food, creating the land and the natural organisms who live Healthy Communities, human and wild alike. there or are under its influence. How is Biodynamic farming different from organic practices? WHOLE FARM The broadest standard is a APPROACH requirement that Biodynamic farms In addition to organic methods, are managed holistically. That herbal and mineral sprays and means encouraging the weaving compost are used, sections together of the hundreds of species of the farm set aside for and interactions on the farm to biodiversity and a whole create a healthy environment farm approach is applied and a flourishing ecosystem. to managing the farm. MATERIALS BIO-DIVERSITY Farmers are required to use Biodynamic farmers are also traditional herbal and mineral required to set aside 10 percent preparations as vineyard sprays of the farm for biodiversity, and to make enhanced compost. ensuring that natural These promote plant health and environments are protected. prevent diseases. Soil Bio char Grapevines are known as Part of the cycle of a vineyard amazingly hardy, vigorous, and is the removal of older resilient plants which can thrive vines or vines which have under careful cultivation. As proven less vigorous in their with the human-health motto, respective climate, soil, or “you are what you eat”, with location. Historically, these plants it is “they are where they vines are pulled, piled up, grow” The soil being the major and dried out, to be burned source of a plants nutrient and in the winter or spring as a elemental uptake. A healthy means of disposal. Biochar soil food web is now seen as the utilizes an ancient method of major means to feed a plant. By soil creation rediscovered and feeding the soil, we are feeding refined. By managing the size this diverse environment of and moisture content of the billions of organisms, which, material, the shape of the pile, when properly balanced, in and the method of ignition, we turn feeds the plants. Thus, are able to burn with very little major attention is placed on smoke or carbon put off to the everything we put on and in atmosphere, creating a stable the ground. form of carbon amendment which acts as a sponge for water, microorganisms, and plant nutrients for years and even decades. Bio preps compost The Biodynamic preparations Biodynamics looks at the are a group of agricultural cow as a major means of formulas created by Rudolf transforming plant matter. Steiner, and by subsequent Not only can the cow provide practitioners, to enhance soil food nutrition to humans, quality and stimulate healthy but their amazing digestive plant growth. The original ability creates manure which group, numbered 500 to 508, then feeds the soil. At Eco include preparations made Terreno, we take organic dairy from cow manure, quartz cow manure and turn with crystal, yarrow, chamomile, organic straw and additional stinging nettle, oak bark, supplemental materials and dandelion, valerian and biodynamic preparations to horsetail. The subtle influence create our own composts of these applications are seen onsite. These are covered as creating a multiplying and allowed to digest and effect, stimulating life at the transform into a stable form boundaries of the landscape of organic matter which is then and within the earth, water, added to our soils in the fall air and ethers. to be assimilated over winter. Barrel compost The six biodynamic compost preparations placed into our We have 50 tons of compost barrel compost. each year from organic 505 Oak Bark cow manure, organic straw, 506 Dandelion inoculated with bio-organisms 504 Stinging Nettle and aged for 6 months. 502 Yarrow 507 Valerian 503 Chamomile COVER CROPS TILLAGE Cover crops are plants In order to create the diversity intentionally planted to cover of life below the soil as well the soil in the vineyard, as to reduce erosion and loss providing food and protection of precious soil moisture, to the life below as well as carbon and nutrients, tillage concentrating minerals and is minimized in much of the elements for the grapevines vineyard. Older vines are assimilation. Our cover crop planted with perennial grasses, mixes include legumes to fix which grow over time and feed nitrogen from the atmosphere, the soil with root exudates deep rooted grasses to break and carbon captured by the up clay soils and bring up air and transformed into root minerals from below, and other materials. Younger vines may flowering plants to attract be tilled to help established beneficial insects and to create strong root systems and then a diverse food source for the transitioned to minimal or soil food web. These may be no till. tilled into the soil to create an in-place composting system mowed to amend by mulching, or harvested for their valuable food, feed and seed yields. bee garden Insectiaries The Bee Garden at Eco Terreno Bees, both honey and native, was inspired by our logo, which are not the only ones attracted placed reverence on the bee to our gardens and plantings. as an indicator species for a Many other pollinators and healthy environment. Though beneficial organisms are grapevines are wind pollinated, attracted to the native and bees, particularly native bees, flowering plants, including (of which there are some 1600 birds, hummingbirds, in California alone) are a main butterflies, amphibians, reptiles source of pollination for many and beneficial insects such native plants and cultivated as ladybugs, lacewings, and crops. Existing in all shapes parasitic wasps. By providing and sizes, these native insects plant attractors throughout are displaced by agricultural the vineyard, these species activities, and damaged by come in and in return prey on chemical farming methods. various vineyard pests, such We seek to reclaim that as mites, mealybugs and more. balance and educate Biodynamic agriculture looks visitors with the garden and to provide 10% of the property surrounding landscape. for wildlife. At Eco Terreno we look to surpass this number and create colorful, vibrant life at all corners of the property. wildlife River In addition to providing habitat Located on the Russian River, in our gardens and riparian at the northernmost reaches of areas, we seek to create homes Sonoma County’s Alexander and attractants to beneficial Valley, the vineyard property is organisms throughout the bordered to the west by nearly property. Bluebird boxes are 3/4 of a mile of riverfront and placed in a regular pattern riparian areas. An incredibly throughout the vineyard to rich habitat, wildlife thrives bring life to the air and prey in this area, including osprey, on pests such as leafhoppers. bald eagles, quail, wood Owl boxes and raptor perches ducks, river otters, steelhead are erected to attract barn trout, foxes, bobcat, coyote owls, hawks, falcons, kestrels and many others. We are and others, which in turn prey actively restoring this area by on gophers, voles and other removing non-native plants and damaging species. promoting native vegetation. In turn, the river feeds our aquifers through the soils gravel beds, creating healthy vines. The result The inspiration for this project, the elegant grape, vitis vinifera. From the intentionally holistic farming methods, the soil building, the preparations, the biochar and carbon capture, the cover crops, insectiary gardens and wildlife habitat–all are part of this organism called Eco Terreno. The ultimate goal, to nurture and enhance the life spirit of this property and to impart that into our product — Eco Terreno Wines. vineyards & wines Alexander Valley Our special place in the Alexander Valley provides us with the materials, sunshine and natural influences to grow some of wine country’s best grapes.