Sustainability

CARING FOR OUR EARTH

 

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We love our earth and we embrace the way the Native Americans nurtured and cared for the earth by the way they lived in harmony with nature.  Our goal is to mimic, in as many ways as possible, that same relationship.

Here on Auburn Twin Oaks farm, we have taken many steps to lessen our negative impact on this land.

 

 

  • Our 65 acre property is in the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, ensuring this land will be a safe habitat for natural wildlife species for years to come.

  • Rainwater from the pavilion roof is captured and pumped into the water tower for irrigation purposes.

  • Landscaping beds are native Ohio wildflower perennials, eliminating the need for unnecessary watering and fertilizing, and encouraging food and shelter for wildlife.

  • Bluebird boxes encourage habitats for once-endangered birds to help control crop-damaging insects.

  • We do not use any chemicals on our lawns or gardens.

  • Vermiculture (worms) and composting is used to process kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, grape pumice, stems, prunings and garden waste.  This material is then used to build the health and fertility of our garden and vineyard soil.

Unfortunately, growing grapes in Ohio is a very difficult without the use of some chemicals.  The wet springs and warm summers promote many types of fungal diseases that can wipe out an entire vineyard.  Although we do use chemicals on the vineyard, we continue to research ways to minimize and hopefully someday, eliminate our need to spray.

In the winery……

  • Ozone water is used for sanitization – no harsh chemicals are used for cleaning.

  • Closely monitored and controlled fermentation

  • Waste water is collected and re-used 

  • Bottles are filled, capped and labeled by hand. Our focus on premium, small batch production eliminates the need for automated production methods.

  • Screw caps are used which eliminates the need for cork, and also contributes to improved aging with less product loss due to spoilage.

 
 
The Garden

“In the garden, my soul is sunshine.”  

 

veggiesVegetable Gardens

While toiling in the gardens, the hours fly past so quickly.  I am at peace in the garden, and my hope is to pass that peace along to anyone who passes by these gardens here at the farm.  

We grow many different varieties of vegetables, focusing on as many heirloom vegetables as possible.  We are also using old methods of farming, the way my Grandma June used to garden….planting by the phases of the moon.

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We are not certified organic here in our gardens, but we also do not use any chemicals.  I incorporate compost and vermicompost to the soil to ensure that the soil is as healthy and enriched as possible to produce quality food.  I will not risk  using unnatural methods or products that lessen the safety  and quality of the vegetables.  Imperfections and odd shapes are abundantly welcome in our garden.

 

 

 

 

nativebedsOhio Native Wildflower Beds

Besides growing vegetables, we enjoy the beauty of natures blooms in flowers.  All of our landscaping beds are planted in "native to Ohio wildflowers."  You may have noticed that our landscaping is a little wild, and does not have your typical pristine and weed-free look.  The flower beds are planted in perennials that you would find naturally growing in any Ohio prairie.  Plants such as Black-Eyed Susans and Joe Pye Weed fill our beds to make a mass of flowers in the summer, attracting native birds and other wildlife for a natural habitat.

 We have lots and lots of beautiful dandelions in our front lawn and we would never think of spraying or fertilizing with chemicals to rid our yard of these and other natural plants.  Please enjoy the natural look and feel of being on a farm that cares for our customers and the environment that you are surrounded by.blackeyedsusan
 
The Vineyards

 

grapes-hangingvidal

 

Our NE Ohio soil consists of lots of rocks and clay.  The vineyard site was always holding water, so our first task was to install drain tile every 9 foot across our field.  We want our roots to grow down deep to reach for water, making a healthy plant.   In the spring of 2006, we gathered our kids  to start planting the 37 rows of vines.   After two weeks, we had planted 2,550 grapevines.   Each row is 300 foot long, with 9 foot spacing between each row.  The majority of our vines are trained to vertical shoot positioning (VSP).  The entire vineyard is now surrounded by an eight-foot deer fence to minimize leaf damage by our furry friends.   

We have planted these different varieties in our vineyard.

Traminette, Riesling , Vidal Blanc ,Cabernet Franc , Concord , Niagara , Vignoles

  • vsp
 
The Winery

sue-in-winerygrapes-in-crusher

How do you make a really great wine?


Step one: Start with excellent grapes.  We include grapes from our own vineyard in addition to grapes from other areas of the US and around the world. 

Step two: Carefully crush, destem and ferment the grapes.  A strict attention to detail ensures we optimize the potential of the grape.

Step three: Settle and stabilize the wine as it matures for a clear vivid color. 

Step four: Minimal handling.  Allowing the structure of the grape to remain intact results in a wine that stays alive and exciting for years.

Step five: Blending and adjusting to taste.  This ensures a wine with layers of complexity.

Step six: Hand bottling, capping and labeling.  In the age old religious debate of corks versus screw caps, we chose the screw caps because they are much more reliable, consistent and sustainable.

Step seven: Chemical free cleanliness.  We sanitize our tanks with ozone: an extremely effective sanitizing agent that uses cold water that has been super oxygenated to kill germs on contact. 

The end result: a clean, clear, crisp, stable wine that meets our customer’s discerning palate.