Spending some time with the owls

Owl Box

It is hard to believe that it is January with all the beautiful weather we have been having recently. This weekend my dad and I set out to accomplish the very messy but important job of cleaning out the owl boxes. In keep with our sustainable farming practices, a few years ago my dad hand crafted 6 owl boxes and put them at the Frost Ranch vineyard. Using owls as a natural predator to help manage pest populations in the vineyard is not a new idea but with the increasing popularity and importance of sustainable and organic farming the use of this technique has increased. Hawks, bats and owls are beneficial predators that hunt unwanted rodents in the vineyard, reducing the need to use pesticides.

Annual cleaning of owl boxes is a small time frame, usually between Nov- Jan. Using gloves is a must and if you run into an owl while cleaning try to disturb them as little as possible. Today we did not run into any owls but there was evidence that they had been used, which is exiting! As you may imagine a strong stomach is good to have when doing this activity as owls tend to regurgitate a lot of what they eat. Nevertheless it’s all part of the job. This winter my dad has plans to build up to 5 more boxes to increase the presence of possible owl habitation in the vineyard. I look forward to next years cleaning!

A commitment to sustainability

Being a steward of the land and its resources is a key practice in our farming and winemaking methods. It will help ensure the sustainability of the vineyards and winery in the hopes of creating a legacy for the generations to come.

“With a dedication to producing the finest wine possible comes also the commitment to preserving the environment. Consistently striving to improve farming practices, I have tried to emphasize environmental soundness, sustainability, and efficiency, all without compromising quality.”
- John Bacigalupi

Some examples of our sustainable practices…
~ Every vineyard is planted with winter cover crops intended to hold precious soils in place while decreasing the risk of erosion on hillside terrain and adding essential nutrients back to the soil all while providing a habitat for beneficial insects.

Canopy Management

~ Precise canopy management including leaf, shoot and cluster removal. This increases air movement through the canopy and better light penetration, drastically reducing the amount of fungicides needed.
~All pomace (grapeskins) are composted and are used the following year as soil amendments

Owl Box

~Pesticide usage is reduced naturally with the introduction of predator habitats (i.e. owl and bat boxes, bird houses.) Also, native and seeded cover crops help reduce dust thus naturally reducing mite populations.

~All our vineyards are hand-tended by a consistently trained team to the meticulous standard of our family farm.

 ~100% of our water use is reclaimed from rainfall. Water is gathered and stored in our two reservoirs, not used from any municipal source.