Jenny Hyndman and Judy Smith, VIGGA Roving ReportersThe Inside Story
The Ed and Joan Popham Organic Vineyard, Old West Saanich Road
Jenny Hyndman and Judy Smith, VIGGA Roving Reporters
Who else out there was being served wine, cheese wedges and thick strips of special bread at 3:15 in the afternoon on Wednesday, July 10 while lounging in the Peninsula sun by a shimmering swimming pool. Man, you gotta love this job.
…and now to the bravery and commitment of the organic grape grower. Natural, natural, natural. So goes the mantra of the organic grape grower. Such folk are Ed and Joan Popham who nurture their vines on Old West Saanich Road property.
Their vineyard has been stepping up the rungs on the ladder of organic certification and will receive its desired designation in six months.
The soil is described as clay based topsoil overlaying our famous Peninsula clay. The Pophams had the soil ripped; drainage tile installed then augured holes for the plants which are own rooted. Plantings in 1997 and 1999 include 250 Ortega, 250 Baccus, 450 Dornfelder.
Black landscape cloth was originally rolled on the ground to stem weed growth and was topped with bark mulch then dressed with "land and sea fertilizer." Weeds were persistent, and they felt there was insufficient nourishment penetrating the landscape cloth. This year, all was removed and replaced with a composite of horse, cow and llama fertilizer, okara which is a by - product of tofu production then topped with at least 6 inches of straw. Weeds still like the stuff but removal from such a blend in fairly easy. No Round Up for these farmers, the hands are "it". The straw was pushed aside and a handful of the top dressing was shown to us and it is indeed great stuff.
Because of the mulching and ease of removal, they feel their weeding time has been cut by 60%. The question yet to answer is whether it will harbor insects and other nasties that may be detrimental to their efforts.
Every 10 days they spray with Micro 5000 to maintain a healthy plant in hopes of controlling mildew. In the process the spray blankets the straw and promotes the production of healthy microorganisms thus aiding the breakdown of the straw mulch. A new bed of straw will be applied yearly. While sulfur products are acceptable in organic vineyards, the Pophams are hoping not to have to use them. Ed applies his spray with a 20 U.S. gallon Spotlite made in Oregon and purchased through Integrity Sales on Keating. Not originally equipped with a vertical spray bar, son John constructed one from white PVC pipe fitted with 3 spray nozzles. The sprayer runs off a 12-volt deep cycle battery and is pulled on a small trailer attached to a garden mower. With the best of concentration, John feels Ed should be able to spray and mow at the same time leaving extra time for pre-dinner arm exercises. Each spring a topical application of lime in the form of Dolopril pellets is applied to the soil.
For the last two years Ed and Joan have made use of the WOOFER program for their spring weeding but with varying degrees of success. The WOOFERS work only on organic crops, pledging 6 hours a day on a two-week contract. In return they receive free room and board. For economic reasons, a couple of 6'5" young men in their late teens or early 20's sporting voracious appetites may not be what you need…on the other hand!
In the lower, wooded part of the property is a very large natural pond which fills over winter and when needed is pumped up to the vines. On average, watering is done every two weeks for six hours and is delivered by way of black pipe attached to the bottom wire with spaghetti tubes running down at intervals through the straw to the plants. The irrigation system is set up with three rows to the zone.
Joan and Ed were both born in the capital of B.C, both went to Vic High and both went to Vic College. They have raised an actress, a dot commer and a firefighter. By any measurement, they have a very long history together, for which we offer our congratulations.
Fireman John and his wife Lana have just recently taken possession of the acreage. Prior to being homeowners they lived on the property where Lana set up and continues to produce excellent organic market produce.
Ed put up with lawyer jokes for the 50 plus years he was practicing Real Estate Law and with the world populated heavily with people like Fraser Smith he still has to endure them. With this kind of pressure one would have thought he would take advantage of the fact that Joan is an active Tai Chi instructor and use this discipline as his form relaxation. It is not to be. Joan instructs downtown at the main Tai Chi Centre in Victoria.
Well, that's the Inside Story on Joan and Ed Popham. Again, our thanks to both of you for showing us around and also to Lana for her courtesies.