Pruning Clinic

Each year around this time, the Maryland Grape Growers Association schedules a series of pruning clinics, hosted by local vineyards, where aspiring grape growers can gain hands on experience in the skill of pruning vines and preparing them for Spring bud break.  Last weekend, I attended my second such clinic in as many years, and once again, the lesson was conducted on a vineyard covered in snow.

Emily and Jack Johnston

Here’s where our romantic notions of grape growing really start to come into question.  For instance, this week’s hosts, the lovely and knowledgeable couple Emily and Jack Johnston, are forced to manage their labor costs by tending their six-acre vineyard by themselves.  There’s basically no way to prune other than by hand, one vine at a time.  That means from the beginning of December until the middle of March, Emily and Jack spend all day, five days a week, in the bitter, wet outdoors, tending to their vines.  Did I mention they’re in their seventies? 

Copernica Vineyards

I’ve already got an arthritic knee and the other day I hurt my shoulder washing my face, so I’m not certain my body will be in any condition to complete such rigors by the time I finally have my own vines to work forty years from now.  Nonetheless, I thought it only right to offer the Johnstons to trade a few afternoons of my labor for a few lugs of grapes at harvest.  They jumped all over the offer.  It will be nice to have access to some locally grown grapes come September, assuming my body holds up until then.