287: Dry Farming Vineyards: Where It Works and How to Begin

Dry farming is more than just skipping irrigation—it's a deliberate practice that starts with soil stewardship. Lauryn Leeds Pesch of Chavez & Leeds Family Vineyards and Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting shares her deep-rooted knowledge in dry farming, a technique that relies solely on stored winter and spring rainfall to meet a vine's needs. Learn about a $2M research initiative with the Department of Water Resources exploring water conservation in coastal California vineyards, the 5-step cultivation process, and how a new mapping tool can help you find and learn from neighboring dry-farmed vineyards.   Resources:   151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health   153: The Role of Nematodes in Soil Health   171: How to Farm Wine Grapes for Climate Change 177: The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Paul Schreiner   181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use?  California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative Dry Farming Dry Farming in Coastal California Vineyards Project Lauren Leeds Pesch Instagram @calidryfarming   Lauren Leeds Pesch LinkedIn Vineyard Team Programs:  Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year – Discount Code PODCAST25 Vineyard Team – Become a Member