Drilling a Well

Construction is beginning on a new custom home on Lot 21. The first step was drilling a well. Mitch Mathews did the drilling. He's been doing it for 32 years in Moses Lake and has a good reputation.

He started at 8 am and was done by 2:30 that afternoon. Drilled 175 feet and hit good water - roughly 85 gallons per minute, many times more than a household can use.

The cost for the well was $7,000, including tax. The pump will cost another $3,300 or so, installed.

Cave B

Mike & Bum came up and we spent a most pleasant couple of days soaking up North Central Washington.

Spent the nite at Cave B, at the gorge. (This is the view from our room.) After dinner we lay on our backs for 45 minutes and wondered at the stars.

The next day we drove up the river road, the palisades and Rock Island, Cashmere ("I love apricots!"), Leavenworth (Icicle Brewing Co), Blewett Pass and back home.

Gorgeous weather and great company.

Just starting to turn

Cab Franc

They'll be turning color - known as "veraison" - shortly.

Jaz in the Vines

My neice Jazmin (that's her on the right) stopped by and took some nice photos on her way back from summer camp at Chewelah.

Carbon Fiber From Moses Lake Plant Will Equal Current World Output

BMW/SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers has plans to produce as much carbon fiber in its Moses Lake plant as is currently produced in the entire world, according to a July 25 article in the Columbia Basin Herald.

The plant began producing carbon fiber last week. The first two production lines, employing about 80 people, will be fully operational this quarter. Those two lines will produce 3,000 metric tons of carbon fiber per year - nearly 10 percent of total world production - according to plant manager Steve Swanson.

Swanson went on to say that BMW/SGL expects to see "some huge future growth in this market." The company holds an option for 60 acres of additional land next to the existing plant. "We can put another eight carbon lines on that 60 acres, close to 30,000 tons," said Swanson. "Our intent is to match the world market. That's very close to matching the world market [of 35,000 metric tons]. I can tell you, that's our intent, to get to that point."

Where will all that carbon fiber be used? Currently the company has only acknowledged plans to use the material in BMW's future MegaCity Vehicle, the i3, and the BMW i8, "a full hybrid sports car." Both vehicles are scheduled for launch in 2013.

But the company's vision clearly encompasses much more than those two vehicles. Swanson pointed out that the use of carbon fiber in aerospace manufacturing has grown dramatically in the past two decades. "Why would we think the same doesn't happen in automotive?" he asked. "Of course it will. Carbon fiber is very strong, light, corrosion-resistant, does not show fatigue and just outlasts any type of metal."

The company recycles as much as it can and has the technology to recycle its material and put it back into parts.

"No one else has this technology," Swanson said. "BMW developed it and it's definitely a big part of our business."

Read the full article here

Cayuse Moses Lake Summer Evening

My Favorite Time of the Day

In the evening everything seems to quiet down and you hear the sprinklers going ch-ch-ch-ch-ch. The sound of summer, the sound of crops slowly maturing in the sun. All's well.

That's Ethan down there in the field changing a length of handline.

Moses Lake Farmers Market

You think this produce is fresh?

About Thyme

Last spring I planted some desert succulents - sedums, creeping thyme, etc - in front of the vineyard sign. They spread quickly and the colors this time of year are spectacular. I'm rooting for the purple thyme to take over, so I'll only water that this summer.

Connolly Park

This gem of a park is half a mile from Cayuse. It used to belong to the Air Force. The locals still call it "Airmens Beach." When the city acquired it, the feds made them agree they would maintain it nicely by spending a certain amount of money every year. So while other parks are wilting in the budget crisis, Moses Lake continues to pour money into improving Connolly Park.

The most recent improvments: New wading beaches, a nice new entry drive, and hydroseeding the hillside. Lush.

Cayuse Moses Lake Spring Sunset

Cayuse Wildflowers

Pablo Wields the Weed-Eater

Spring tasks include getting the irrigation system going, weeding, and planting some replacements for vines that did not survive the last two winters.

I planted a few Riesling vines this year just as an experiment. Want to see how they do compared to the Chardonnay and Cab Franc.

We haven't done any spraying in the vineyard this year, and I don't think we will. It's not that I'm big on all the "organic" stuff but I think the vines might do better without chemicals around. So we hand-weeded the plant wells, we'll keep the rows clean with hand and hoe, and weed-eater the aisles as usual.

Spring Start-up

It's spring and everything is popping in the vineyard.

Temperature got down to -15 just before Thanksgiving. Did a lot of damage all over the state, and not just in grapes. Like many others, I waited until bud swell before pruning. Didn't want to inadvertently cut away any buds that did survive the winter. Now (late April) I can see where the dieback ends and the live buds begin, and I can prune with more confidence.

The Cab Franc on the southwest slope did best. There are plenty of live buds well up the canes.

The Chardonnay on the west end of the vineyard did poorly. 90% of those had to be cut back nearly to the ground. However, they have good root systems and will send up new shoots this summer that should be trainable onto the wire.

In general, although there was extensive bud damage, I am pleased at how healthy the canes are.

Bottom line is we have to use all available cold-weather defenses: late (double) pruning, multiple trunks, laying canes down in the winter. Can't take any shortcuts. It's labor intensive, but there's no getting around it if we want to have a successful vineyard.

For All You Bicyclists Out There

Trails Planning Team helps develop bike and foot paths around the Moses Lake area. Check out the article here