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November 28, 2004
Three Acres Marked
So maybe you'll recall several entries ago we said we were going to install four acres. Then we bought vines for two. And guess what - according to the geometry of the vineyard three acres works out to be the most efficient configuration. The front portion of our land has about seven usable acres of which we've decided (based on topography and geometry) to break up into two three-acre blocks.
So 36 rows spaced at 9' = 324'
At a row length of 400' that is an area of 129,600 sq. ft.
An acre is 4,840 sq. yds. so
129,600 / 4,840 / 9 (convert from sq. yds. to sq. ft.) = 2.98 acres
Looks like we need to order some more vines!
So my mom came out and helped Shannon and I lay out the last 200' of stakes. Quite a sight that Mickey - out in the field with her $200 Santa hat by Ignacious (reknowned folk artist) marching around with bamboo stakes like she was the drum major of a marching band. OK so maybe this isn't how they do it in the Rhone valley in France but the hell with them - they don't know what they're missing. So Shannon and I worked the measuring tapes and placed the bamboo whilst mom put on the marking tape. An enjoyable morning was had by all and we finished up marking out the first block. Have a look.
Have to say though, I'm thinking about getting a laser level for the next three acres...
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Stephen
at
3:54 PM
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November 27, 2004
Bush Hawging Agin
OK wireless broadband Internet is totally cool! Roadstar got us hooked up last night. Connectivity is great - I got a "T1 Lite" package - guaranteed 128k up/down and up to 1.5M up/down. So I had to verify that my VPN was working and of course there was a crisis at work - CEO needed some files updated for an investor roadshow. Ack - can't say no to that! So I made the edits, and was going to FedEx them this morning on CD but no one could come up with the hotel address for Monday before the noon dropoff deadline this morning. Oh well it all worked out OK.
So at noon it was time to take off the hat with the little propeller on top and put on my VT hokie ball cap and git back to some bush hawging!!! We didn't clear enough in preparation for the vineyard marking, so I had to finish that plus mow the entire perimeter where the deer fence will be installed. Got into some ugly bushes and found a boulder or two but it all got done. So time to call it a day - will finish the marking tomorrow...
Posted by
Stephen
at
3:44 PM
November 26, 2004
Marking It Out
What a day! Got up early this morning to install our data loggers. We bought three HOBO Pro RH/Temp data loggers to capture relative humidity and temperature data. Check out the product specs here. Also take a look at the software. We plan on keeping very detailed weather info in the vineyard in order to evaluate fruit quality trends in the future, among a million other things that data will be useful for!
Doug came over about 10AM and we got right to work on marking out the vineyard. First order of business was to walk the perimeter and determine where the deer fence would be installed. Once that was established, we had to decide how to lay out the rows. Since the aspect of the hill is essentially in a NW-SE it didn't make sense to attempt N-S or E-W rows, so we made the decision based on the practicality of rows up/down hill. Worked out great because this orientation allowed us to design the rows perpendicular to the adjoining roadway and deer fence.
So on Doug's advice we chose to allow 30' of headspace between the end of each row and the deer fence (for maneuvering the tractor around.) Since the roadway wasn't exactly linear, there was some difficulty getting the first line of end posts marked. There is a hill right in the middle of the vineyard and you can't see from one side to the other, so it took three tries to get the line correct so that there was adequate headspace across all rows. Based on additional room at the sides of the vineyard before the deer fence, we ended up with 36 end posts spaced at 9' (324')
Then the next challenge was to lay down the first perpendicular row - again the crest in the hill interfered with our measurements at the edge of the vineyard, so after a few tries we decided to begin in the middle and work our way out. Eureka! Using a 60-80-100 triangulation we were able to get a perfectly perpendicular row down the center of the vineyard. Next job was to create another right angle 100' down that row, then lay out the tapes and mark off the 9' between rows. Each point is marked with a bamboo stake (I'll post pictures as soon as they are developed.)
Then we had to repeat the process a second time. The goal here was to place bamboo stakes at 100' intervals down the row as guides for me when I go to turn the soil with the subsoiler on the tractor. So each 100' mark has to be exactly 9' from the next, and perfectly in line with the other stakes in the row. Now you wouldn't think that 1 inch makes a difference standing in the middle of a big field, but let me tell you that when you are sighting back along a line of bamboo stakes you can definitely tell when one doesn't line up!
Once we got the second set of 100' markers in place Doug decided we were doing fine on our own and said "see ya later!" But oops - look at the time! Have to shut down for the day and get back to our rental shack - Roadstar is coming out to install our wireless Internet connection. Will finish up over the next few days!
NOTE - I will be creating some step-by-step graphics using maps (one of these days) to help illustrate the above sequence of events a bit more clearly...
Posted by
Stephen
at
3:15 PM
November 25, 2004
Happy Thanks-Bush-Giving-Hogging
Ahhh... Thanksgiving. What a great idea. Shannon and I have a lot to be thankful for right now!
But duty calls - before heading over to my brother's place for dinner I have to get on the tractor and do some bush hogging to clear some more land in preparation for marking out the vineyard tomorrow. What better way to work up an appetite than bouncing around on a tractor for a few hours!
Posted by
Stephen
at
9:10 AM
November 7, 2004
Open House
It's done. All of it. Having an open house as I write - already had some prospects come through. Kinda feel sorry for them as I hadn't showered yet (after working for the past 16 hours with only a 2-hour nap from 4-6AM) so I was quite repulsive. Awesome. They were actually checking out the place for their grandmother, and they liked it so they are bringing her by in a little bit. Buy grandma, buy!
Friday night Shannon picked me up from work and we headed down to VA. Got into the shack a little after 1AM, then fell right to sleep. Woke up and got ready for our first meeting with Doug Fabbioli - will blog about that later - and that finished up about noon yesterday, then it was time to get the Uhaul with Shannon's clothes and most of the kitchen stuff unloaded at the new place. In the midst of all this, a stray kitten wandered over to our place from across the street. Pitiful. Two eye infections glued shut and a sinus infection - the poor thing could barely breathe. So we snatch her up and take her with us, with the plan of depositing at the animal hospital for treatment. So then we met my mom at the new place and got the Uhaul unloaded, then went back to the shack for the bedroom furniture while mom picked up some lunch. Unloaded the second time, then it was time to get me to the airport for a 5PM flight. Ahh, but first we have to deposit kitty and trailer.
Animal hospital - closed.
Uhaul office - hidden.
Stress levels - mounting.
Finally get the Uhaul dropped off, but now there is no time for Shannon to take me to the airport, so I hop in with Mom and we're off to Dulles (after a teary goodbye - very sad.) Shannon makes it to the animal shelter just in time, and I make my flight just in time.
So I land at White Plains at 6:45PM, head to Wilton (damn cab ride cost more than my plane ticket...) pick up my car and go to Home Depot to pick up some remaining pieces. Back to the house and work until 4AM getting the last bits of construction done. Nap until 6AM then get up and begin the cleanup. Finished that around noon just in time for some nice folks to drop by. What a weekend.
Anyway, for you fans who have been following the kitchen progress, I betcha can't wait to see the final result??? Well first let's have a peek at what it looked like just over 2 weeks ago:
View 1
View 2
Lovely pink laminate cabinets! And one more peek after it was gutted:
Gutted with surprise pipe
And now for the main event! Since some of the colors didn't come across too well on my old digital camera, the counters are dark blue with a grainy pattern in them, and the walls are a light grey/silver, maple cabinets, brushed silver hardware and wall plates.
View image 1
View image 2
View image 3
View image 4
View image 5 (ugly light is getting replaced tomorrow night...)
Now I just have to manage to keep my eyes open until 5PM when the open house is over. I am toasted right now.
Also have to write my relocation notice for work tonight - dropping the bomb on my boss tomorrow. She's the best - I am very hopeful that even if there is some resistance from the other Execs that she'll make it happen for me. Cross your fingers gang...
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Stephen
at
12:50 PM
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November 6, 2004
Doug's First Visit
This morning we enjoyed our first onsite meeting with Doug Fabbioli. He came by for two hours - first order of business was proper introductions and a bit of history exchange. After we chatted for a while he said "You seem to be very driven, I get the impression that even if I tried to talk you out of this you'd go ahead and do it anyway..."
Yeah, pretty much.
So we skipped that part and headed out to the vineyard. Doug seemed encouraged by the topography of the site we've selected for the initial planting, and left us with several "homework" tasks to get done before we can start marking out the vineyard, scheduled for Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Shannon will have to get some bushhogging done while I'm in Connecticut, and Doug will be back to take soil samples so we can evaluate the conditions and add the proper amendments in the next few weeks.
Doug has a lot of great information and lots of local contacts, but most importantly has a very easy-going manner about him which makes him easy to talk to, ask questions, etc. We never sensed any condescension, just an enthusiasm about the project, and a feeling of a "shared vision" kind of like "let's do this right the first time!"
Looking forward to our next workday, which will be a big one - marking out the 8 acres for deer fencing, then marking out the 4 acres for planting.
Posted by
Stephen
at
11:59 AM
November 1, 2004
For Sale By Owner
Well it's official - the sign went in the yard yesterday. 152 Vista Terrace is for sale by owner. Probably didn't make friends with the neighbors though - the house across the street is for sale as well, and since they are using a realtor I figured why not sponge off of their traffic. How was I to know they were having an open house yesterday? hehe... We actually got a call right after I put out the sign but Shannon thinks it was the neighbor asking us what we are listing for (or to tell me off...) Got another call today though from a drive by, so it's encouraging so far!
So I created a Web page and have been spamming the local realtors - and will hopefully get it in the MLS tomorrow via a list-it-yourself service. So have a look at our page.
Shannon has the blues a bit - selling your first home is always kind of sad. We're kind of glad she'll be in VA during this process, maybe it won't be so bad. Plus she'll have the two varmints with her so that's one less headache to worry about while showing the house. Seamus will stay with me and devour any prospects who don't like the work we've just done. He's a predator. "The house is great but we don't like the kitchen." Seamus - kill.
View image 1
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Stephen
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4:17 PM
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