malibu solstice vineyard sustainable & environmentally friendly farming practices
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Malibu Solstice Vineyard
Sustainable & Environmentally Friendly Farming Practices
Erosion Control
Root System
· Vitis Vinifera (common grape vine) roots can be categorized as lateral & vertical tap.
· Tap roots can reach depths of 7 meters, while lateral roots can spread upto 10 meters according to UC Davis Studies.
· Dry farming and limited irrigation practicesencourage roots to grow deeper tosearch for ground water.
Vines with deeper roots are more healthy andmore difficult for phylloxera to attack, preventing pesticide use.
Cover Cropping
· Greatly reduces top soil erosion during heavy precipitation and reduces airbornedust in windy environments.
· Used as insectary plants to bring in beneficial insects and spiders that feed on the pests, thus reducing dependencyon chemical pesticides.
· Suppress weed growth between vine rows,In turn reducing use of chemical herbicides.
·Increase soil fertility through nitrogen fixationand mineral depositing. Reduce need foradditional fertilizers.
Limited Water Dependency
Dry Farming Techniques
· 85% of California’s soil is moisture rich enough to support grapevines withoutadditional irrigation.
· Cover cropping can slow soil surfaceevaporation and lessen irrigation requirements.
· Should irrigation be required, minimal useof ultra efficient drip systems prevent waterloss to evaporation and run-off.
· Irrigation systems sourced from naturalwells are nearly closed loop systems.
Additional Practices
Sustainable & Environmental
· Most vineyards require little to no fossilfuels or electricity when hand maintained.
· The Santa Monica Mountains are rich in natural predators eager to control rodent and insect infestations, limiting the need for pesticide and poison use.
· Retained vineyard clippings and grape pomace saved from the wine making Process can be used as natural fertilizers.
·Recycled bottles, cartons, labels, and shipping materials are readily availablethroughout the United States.