May "The Inside Story"

(from Roving reporters Jenny Hyndman and Judy Smith)

The Inside Story

Con and Judi Sollid Vineyard

"Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above. Deer fence me in!
We are sure we could hear Con and Judi singing this as we drove into their driveway for the big interview. We sat in their lovely new home sipping peach iced-tea and taking in the Mt. Newton Valley that spread below us and out to the west. The view is superb, but it was not the deciding factor in the Sollid's purchasing this property. More important, Con says, is the fact that with good binoculars he can easily see John Brickett toiling in his vineyard, shirt off, and muscles rippling.
Con and Judi both came from Saskatchewan farming backgrounds, and after pursuing their different careers they have come back to the land.
Judi is retired from teaching and law. The skill she had when owning, operating and redecorating the famous Beaconsfield B&B in Victoria shows in their home. Con left the tight confines of the human mouth and a career as a dentist (Orthodontics) and bought a 45 HP Holmes tractor complete with backhoe and is playing Tonka Tom. The foundation for their new home plus all the finishing work was done by hands that once held teeny weenie instruments. "Just give me some dirt to move and I'm happy", says the backhoe master.

While they were building their home Con tested his mettle and planted 1000 Gewurtztraminer vines (grafted onto 3309 rootstock) in well-drained, gravelly, loam. He used standard spacing of 4 ft. between plants, in 8-ft. wide rows, with posts at 20 ft. intervals and a fruiting wire at 30 inches. Seven posts have been used at intervals to accomodate future overhead bird-netting. Water is courtesy of Central Saanich through a 2 in. diam. pipe giving 110 gals./min. Delivery to the plants is through drip tubes with 2 emitters per plant. The deer have been deprived this year of dining at the Sollid restaurant. They came by last year one time too many without making a reservation.

The Sollid country home is a gathering place for two married children, and two (soon to be four!) grandchildren. Con and Judy give great importance to family togetherness and support. After both had very busy, people-oriented, careers they want to concentrate on quiet building of these relationships and exploring other interests that have been put off until now.

Thank you both for the hospitality and time to chat with us. Congratulations on your new home and vineyard endeavours. Keep an eye on John, that old renegade, and report any shenanagins to the proper authorities. Cheers to all........Jenny and Judy, the Eye Spies.