A backyard vineyard is much more than a hobby – it’s a way of life. You’ll find yourself much more in tune with the natural cycle of life around you: the seasons, the weather, the terrain, and all the little ecosystems within ecosystems both in and around your vines.
You’ll pay much more attention to the little things – frost on your windows, fog down by the creek, bird migrations, and the smell of rain, among other things.
And you’ll simply be a happier person. Rather than living a passive, sedentary life inside in front of the television during your free time, you’ll find yourself outside with nature actively creating something at the beautiful intersection of manual labor, technical know-how, and creative artistry. There just isn’t a better way to spend a mid-summer morning than with a row of vines, a dog, and some talkative birds.
When you commit to a backyard vineyard, you commit to so much more.
You commit to planting some roots, both literally and figuratively, in your area for at least the next five years (though to really make the effort worth it, think ten to fifteen.)
You commit yourself to self-improvement. You’ll need to learn a lot about sun, soil, water, and vines. You’ll need to be (or become) physically fit. And you’ll need to commit yourself to a life of learning, journaling, and reflecting, if you haven’t already (both regarding vineyard operations and life in general).
You commit yourself to mindfulness. Not the Manhattan-style mindfulness resulting from an overload of screen time and social media, but the real kind born of necessity. You’ll need to be mindful and aware of your land, your habitat, your weather, your seasons, and the like.
You commit yourself to working and celebrating with your extended family on an annual basis, at the minimum.
And you commit yourself to having the most sought-after Christmas present every single year…at least after year three.
These, and many other reasons, make a backyard vineyard a venture worth pursuing. Your author’s tipping point occurred while harvesting grapes in Eastern Georgia (the Republic of, not the state) and was agreed upon by family after one-too-many bottles of red wine at Black Ankle in Mt. Airy, MD.
When and where will yours be?
Vineyard Preparation: https://www.thechapdaddy.com/category/backyard-vineyard/vineyard-preparation/
Vineyard Management: https://www.thechapdaddy.com/category/backyard-vineyard/training-and-management/