Weeding

These photos shows how we manage weeds prior to harvest. The main goal is to knock down weeds so they don't seed, and to make is easier for pickers to access the grapes, and to walk the rows to carry out boxes. However, after harvest we want grass to grow again to provide pasture for our horse, Angelito, to stabilize the soil against erosion and to provide green manure to replenish lost organic matter.

This tool knocks the weeds down, cuts off any tall weeds and slices through the root masses and thatch, without uprooting the cover crop. In a few days or weeks, established roots will push up new shoots and revive the cover.