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THE
FARMING
The Chambers' farm achieved Demeter-certified
Biodynamic® status in 2006. Demeter is the
globally recognized Biodynamic® certification
agency. The Chambers use all the BD Preps as
well as whey, sulfur, compost tea, botanical
teas, horticultural oil and biological fungal
controls (like Serenade). The vineyard floor is
managed to maximize plant species diversity
which helps maintain balanced insect
populations.
During the early years, while Kevin worked off
the farm, Carla performed much of the hand
labor, and they shared the tractor work. Now,
they co-own a vineyard management firm, Results
Partners, who performs most of the hand labor.
Kevin and Carla do most of the tractor work and
biodynamic applications. The vine canopy is
intensely managed to provide maximum light and
air penetration, as well as careful solar
exposure of the fruit. Crop levels are monitored
closely every year. The moderately dense spacing
allows for fruit to thinning, yielding very
close to two tons per acre every year. All the
fruit is hand harvested for very gentle
processing.
Biodynamic farms employ unique agricultural
methods (in addition to meeting all of the
requirements for organic certification). These
include frequent applications of field and
compost preparations and use of an astronomical
calendar to determine times of planting and
harvesting. Biodynamic preparations sprayed in
the vineyard or applied in the farm’s compost
pile include:
• Horn manure: promotes root activity, stimulates soil
micro-life
• Horn silica: enhances light metabolism, influences
color, aroma and flavor
• Yarrow: permits plant to attract trace mineral
elements
• Chamomile: establishes nitrogen within the compost,
and increases soil life
• Nettle: stimulates soil health
• Oak bark: provides healing forces to combat plant
diseases
• Dandelion: stimulates the relation between silica and
potassium
• Valerian: stimulates compost so that phosphorus
components can be used
by the soil
• Equisetum Arvense (horsetail): helps prevent or
lessens the effects when
conditions are conducive to fungus
The most challenging…and expensive…aspect of
farming a Biodynamic® or organically certified
vineyard is weed control! Some growers may use
mechanical mowers or blades, but the row
terracing in Resonance Vineyard makes this
unfeasible. Kevin and Carla have experimented
with a variety of weed control options: straw
mulch, burlap coffee bags, citrus oil, vinegar
or clove oil. Currently, all plant rows
throughout the 20-acre vineyard are hand-hoed by
crews of hardworking laborers.
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