Spring is here and the buds have exploded into rapidly growing shoots. The vineyards have come alive and transformed the landscape of barren dormant sticks into lush green rows. As the vines return to center stage, an often forgotten player moves to the back -- the Cover Crop. That's right, the stuff that grows between the vines.

The cover crop plays a key role in any sustainable farming program. A mix of Barley, Clover and Sweet Peas serve as our cover crop.  They are planted just after harvest, in autumn, and provide a lush green carpet until the rains subside in late spring.

The cover crop is not just there for looks though. Consider a few of the benefits. 

Free Fertilizer
Most plants rely on and consume nitrogen from the soil. This nitrogen, in mineral form, needs to be replenished. Large scale industrial agriculture uses synthetic nitrogen, produced from fossil fuel, to provide this replenishment. 75% of the air we breathe is nitrogen.  But this nitrogen in gas form is inaccessible to plants.

Here's where the Legumes (Sweet Peas and Clover) come in to play. The roots of legumes attract parasitical bacteria that convert the gas nitrogen in the air to mineral nitrogen that is accessible to plants. This, combined with our composting program, allows us to maintain an ample nitrogen level in our soil without the use of outside fertilizers.

Erosion Control
The roots of the grass, barley in our case, grasp the soil and provide protection from erosion by the winter rains and wind.  

Natural Pest Control
Sweet peas also attract black aphids. While these would be considered harmful pests in a vegetable garden, they are not interested in harming grape vines. They are however interested in the larva of white leaf hoppers which do feed on grape leafs. So, the sweet peas play a substantial role in our sustainable pest control program which eliminates our need for pesticides.

Soil Compaction
Grapes, like most plants, like aerated soil. The cover crops help out with this in two ways. The roots of the legumes and grasses break up the soil. Then, once they die off, they decompose into organic mulch.

Food
Our cover crops also provide nutrition to our sheep, goats and chickens. Which, in return, provide the vineyard with fertilizer and the kitchen with fresh eggs and meat.