About the farm

Despite the water shortage and rationing this year, the effects are quite minimal. In a year with a full supply of irrigation water, we use only half of our allotment. Vineyards only need a third of the normal allocation. Our pastures use about 2/3 of the available water. So, we are at this point, at our average.

The challenge comes at the end of the season. When will the water be shut off? Typically, it’s in October when the weather has cooled, and fall precipitation has begun. We don’t need to irrigate except to load the soil with moisture to help prevent freeze damage to the root systems. Dry soil freezes deeper than moist soil.

Usually, we put abundant irrigation on the vines the last week water is available. A lot of water when it’s warm can stimulate new growth that has no winter cold tolerance. I think if we are past the Wedding Anniversary Weekend when we do that last round, we will be okay.

Once the water is shut off, Summer Camp for Cows comes to an end. During the off-season, well water is used for livestock, and supplying water to cattle in the far paddocks becomes a significant endeavor. They need 10 gallons a day each! Right now, that’s about 180 gallons a day.

Miss Piggy and 30 sheep need only 10 gallons at most. If there is a lot of dew, rain, or snow, the sheep often go days between visits to the water trough. The sheep are also able to forage through the winter and rarely need to be fed hay, only if we get sustained deep and crusted snow.

Miss Piggy gets a bucket of warm mash at dusk. The winter forage is enough for sheep but not enough for her. She receives no supplemental feed during the growing season; she does fine on pasture. We aren’t growing many melons this year, but if you visit, we can likely send you off with one. Some days, we have many, and other days, just a few.