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October proclaims two main events: harvest and Halloween.
It's been several decades since I've worked in our vineyards picking grapes. As a child I drove a tractor, plowed fields and watered the new vineyards vine by vine, driving a refitted vintage fire truck with one sibling opening the water valve as we slowly rolled through the rows. Once September and October arrived, the grape harvest began. Crews of eight workers, including myself, combed every vine with our specially curved knife quickly dropping bunches of ripe berries into the lugs which would be dumped into big bins on the grape trailer. When the truck and trailer had a full load, we'd ride with my dad to the wineries for the delivery. We all loved being with our dad hauling the grapes to their wine destination. Although we worked on numerous neighboring farms harvesting, culling or cutting peaches, apricots and pears, none of us were fans of the grape picking process.
Because of the dearth of available pickers, a couple of years ago my brother invested in a mechanical harvester. This week, on the final night of the cabernet sauvignon harvest, I rode along with my brother and nephew as the huge harvester and four men did the work of six crews with precision and speed. (Instead of picking during the heat of the day, the harvester allows harvesting at night into the early morning hours when it is cooler.) Although we still have several acres that are hand picked, I hollered "hallelujah" to this happy mechanical harvesting experience.
Lamorinda boasts a rich grape growing precedent with a 130-year-old history. The Lamorinda Wine Growers Association, (www.LamorindaWineGrowers.com) dedicated to sustainable farming and community building, is re-establishing the area's love of the vine and wine along with our pleasant pear past. Lamorinda is now a recognized wine region with its own viticulture appellation thanks to the hard work of the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association. The varietals grown throughout Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga span the French Bordeaux area with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot to the Rhone regions' Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvädre and Viognier. Burgundy is represented by the Pinot Noir grape and Lamorindans also grow small amounts of Sangiovese and Chardonnay. Because the plots are small, grapes are hand picked. A mechanical harvester has not become a necessary piece of equipment...yet. I'm hoping that 2016 will be heralded as a prime vintage year.
Preparing for Halloween, it's time to harvest the pumpkins, gourds and winter squash. If you don't grow your own, you'll find funky as well as colorful pumpkins at the local farmers market and even many of the grocery stores. Apples and Asian pears are still hanging from the trees awaiting their reaper. Find a recipe for making caramel or candied apples to enjoy an old-fashioned treat. Cut your corn stalks to use in decorations and buy a hay bale to add to the dĒcor. You can later use the hay to cover your newly planted vegetable patch. The hay mulch will keep most weeds from emerging as the ghosts, ghouls and goblins begin their rampage.
It's time to howl at the moon with a glass of Lamorinda produced wine! Enjoy a grape adventure!
Mid Month Gardening Tips from Cynthia Brian
The next two months are busy ones in the garden as we prepare our beds for a winter's sleep. Chrysanthemums will be displaying their full glory soon, a certain beacon of the blazing fall colors to follow. Get out there and get it done now.
FERTILIZE lawns during the rain for faster absorption. Don't forget to re-seed during these wet days as well.
PULL any weeds you find in your garden before they develop seed heads.
CREATE a sunflower arch for a festive October wine fest.
PLANT a variety of lettuces in a window box or container kept close to your kitchen to keep your salads fresh all season Clip the micro greens as they sprout for delicate, delicious delights.
REPAIR birdhouses so that overwintering birds such as bluebirds, chickadees, and nuthatches will have a warm, safe, cozy place to rest during the upcoming cold nights.
INCREASE bird feeders in your yard as birds consume more food in fall and winter.
TUNE up your garden by pruning back overgrown shrubs and adding three or five New Zealand flax for their spiky form and variegated colors.
DIG and divide iris rhizomes now. Make sure to keep a few inches of the leaves on the stems and bury the roots two inches deep, 18 to 20 inches apart.
WATCH the antics of the lizards as they sun themselves on rocks during these final days of warmth.
STOP watering remaining summer crops to force your final produce to ripen.
PRUNE your berry bushes, including summer raspberries, blackberries and blueberries by removing dead canes. Thin any new forming canes.
AMEND your hard clay soil with large amounts of compost.
MULCH with wood chips to prevent erosion and maintain temperate soil temperatures.
MAKE a beautiful arrangement of fall flowers and foliage snipped from your trees and bushes.
FREEZE or can your vine tomatoes before the rains rot them.
ENROLL in a course on edible gardening, native plants or composting.
PROPOGATE perennials through root cuttings.
INDULGE in forest bathing...or just take a walk in nature.
SAVE seeds from your favorite annuals, herbs, and vegetables by gathering, drying, labeling and storing.
HARVEST the remainder of ripe produce before the end of the month-apples, Asian Pears, peppers, Swiss chard.
IMPROVE your health by enjoying grapes, apples, pears, pumpkins and squash.
ROAST seeds from squash and pumpkins by first cleaning, drying, soaking in salted water, then, baking at 375 degrees until golden brown. What a healthy snack!
TIE dried corn stalks together to add to your front door fall dĒcor.
Happy Gardening, Happy Growing, Happy Harvested Halloween!
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA