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The cool dry spring has also been good news for the men planting the
new vineyard. They can’t really work in rain as it churns up the
soil, and warm weather makes the hard work even more tiring. They’ve
worked phenomenally hard, and the 8,000 new vines plus plastic
mulch, stakes, rabbit guards, end posts, and wirework have been
completed by six men in just five weeks.
Ian, the planting consultant, always likes to plant vines exactly
facing due south, but in our field that would have entailed planting
the rows at a slight angle to the hedges as the field slopes
slightly to the west. This would have meant odd length rows, and
would not have looked symmetrical when viewed alongside the adjacent
vineyards, so looks won and the vines have been planted parallel to
the boundaries. Sam will get a surprise when he returns from New
Zealand, as what was a green pasture when he left is now a complete
vineyard.
Paul from Devon was the gang master, and recruited the others
locally. To save commuting back home on a daily basis he parked his
caravan in our vineyard, and had a portable toilet delivered. He was
completely self-sufficient, never bothered us for anything and
worked extremely hard. He had his own priorities – he didn’t want
running water, but had a satellite TV dish delivered and attached to
a small wooden post in the field!
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