287: Dry Farming Vineyards: What a $2M Grant Is Teaching Us
Dry farming is more than just skipping irrigation—it's a deliberate practice that starts with soil stewardship. Lauryn Leeds Pesch of Chavez & Leeds Family Vineyards and Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting shares her deep-rooted knowledge in dry farming, a technique that relies solely on stored winter and spring rainfall to meet a vine’s needs. Learn about a $2M research initiative with the Department of Water Resources exploring water conservation in coastal California vineyards, the 5-step cultivation process, and how a new mapping tool can help you find and learn from neighboring dry-farmed vineyards.
Resources:
- 151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health
- 153: The Role of Nematodes in Soil Health
- 171: How to Farm Wine Grapes for Climate Change
- 177: The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Paul Schreiner
- 181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use?
- California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative
- California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative Dry Farming
- Dry Farming in Coastal California Vineyards Project
- Lauren Leeds Pesch Instagram @calidryfarming
- Lauren Leeds Pesch LinkedIn