Vineyard Opportunities

Opportunites with Wineries & Vineyards

Our objectives benefit both entities: we require land for our livestock, barley and fish, and wineries seek alternative sustainable farming solutions. Initially, we need a parcel of land to cultivate fall-sown barley. We’re not asking for all your land—just to lease a portion, perhaps 2-10% of your acreage. Our farming operations might lead to timing or access conflicts, potentially causing frustration for your staff. We aim to mitigate this by collaborating closely with your team on every facet of our operations. Establishing these cooperative relationships is crucial, as our county’s access to affordable, sustainable food products and overall food security hinges on them.

Our Introduction

Potential Rainwater Retention Projects

Water and Soil are precious commodities in Napa County. We will take a multifaceted approach to sustainability. First is ground water retention.

As the rain begins, we’ve sown barley as a cover crop to absorb the moisture.
Straw wattles are used to direct runoff into vineyard rows and to slow down the water flowing through and out of the vineyards.
Strategic artificial recharge involves drilling 8-inch holes and filling them with tile and rock to facilitate water absorption into the ground. These holes are typically drilled along the paths of water runoff.
Straw from the barley harvest is used to cover and mulch vineyard rows. The purpose of the straw is to conserve soil moisture, maintain a cool soil surface to protect roots from temperature fluctuations, and enhance soil health.

Our Introduction

Potential Pond Utilization for Aquaculture

We are interested in leasing your ponds for Duck and Fish Aquaculture operations. Most duck species require water for reproduction. We plan to maintain a living flock on your pond to produce fertile eggs and hatch more ducks. Additionally, we would like to introduce catfish or bass into your ponds for aquaculture purposes. Our aim is to use these fish to create fish emulsion permitted by the CDFW. Our stocking rate will be lower than that of typical fish farms, and we intend to feed and harvest on an 9-month cycle. We will maintain the health of the ecosystem.

Our Introduction

Potential Fall Sown Barley Between Rows

We would like to lease the rows between your vines. We’d like to plant quick rise fall sown barley, and harvest early spring / summer. Typically, we’d sow using seed drills in late October -November and harvest prior to the canopy reaching full height.

Sowing barley in the fall can offer several benefits for vineyards, particularly as a cover crop. Here are some of the advantages:

Our Introduction

Potential Vineyard Sheep

We’d like to lease land in vineyards for the use of raising sheep. It’s a great partnership to allow for benefits for the community. The sheep offspring will be either sold as yews, kept back for our own flocks or used for meat to feed Napa. Here are some key advantages for the winery:

While the benefits are clear, it’s important we manage sheep integration carefully to avoid potential issues such as overgrazing or damage to young vines. Proper timing, e collars or electric fencing, and supervision are essential to ensure that sheep are a valuable asset to vineyard management.

Our Introduction

Fire Mitigation Goats

Our goal is to work with vineyard owners and land owners to move our goats from one end of the valley to the other. Our goats will be accompanied by companion livestock dogs and a goat herder. The goal here is to move very large trainer herds to graze overgrowth in our hills above Napa County. All goats will be trained to electronic collars prior to entering a herd. We are going to invest a great deal of money and effort into this venture. We plan to have more than 6000 goat up valley, breeding and coming to the farm to deliver offspring. Our goats will be Spanish or Boer goats prized for their meat and ability to handle harsh environments. We will follow the herd with native seed to try to weed out invasive species over time.

Our Introduction

Duck & Turkey for Insect Control

We’s like to partner with wineries to run Indian Runner and Pekin ducks in ponds and through vineyards. The ducks will be let out during the day and put away at night. Another Aim of Our Initiative Is to Introduce Indian Runner and Peking Ducks to The Vineyards, In Collaboration with Our Aquaculture Pond Fish Emulsion Program. These Ducks Will Serve as an Excellent Source of Meat and Eggs For The Co-Op.

We Plan to Establish a Breeding Flock at The Pond and A Larger Group of Ducks Dedicated to Sustainable Insect Control. In Conjunction with Fish and eventually, sheep, The Fertilizer Produced by These Animals Will Contribute to The Estimated 10-60 Pounds Per Acre of Fertilizer Required for the Vineyard. This Program Is Set to Become an Essential Asset for Sustainability for All Involved.

Indian Runner ducks are quite beneficial in vineyards for several reasons:

Pest Control: They are known for their ability to control pests naturally. Indian Runner ducks feed on snails and insects that can be harmful to grapevines, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Fertilization: As they roam through the vineyards, their droppings act as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil with nutrients.
Sustainability: By integrating ducks into vineyard management, farmers can move towards more sustainable and eco-friendly practices, reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals.

These ducks have been used effectively in places like South Africa, where a vineyard utilized 1,600 Indian Runner ducks as part of their integrated pest management program. This approach not only helps in maintaining the health of the vines but also contributes to the overall ecosystem of the vineyard.

Our Introduction

Fallow Land Carbon Capture

We need land everywhere and all types, if you have land that is inactive lets come up with a plan to keep that land active. Fallow land takes years to start capturing carbons at any great level. Give us a change to plan cover crops on it, run livestock or plant it. If you believe capturing carbon or increasing all around biodiversity is important, you can’t leave your land fallow. Call us.