Starting to Look Like a Vineyard

Spent the last several days digging post holes for the 6" diameter end posts that will anchor the rows of vines. I dropped some smaller posts in the holes just to see how they lined up.

Cayuse Farmland

Robert disking the lower field, preparing to plant alfalfa.

90 New Water Permits Issued in Grant County

This is a big deal. Ecology has issued almost no new permits in the past decade, and all of a sudden they've issued NINETY new ones in Grant County to goose the local economy.

"Vineyards, dairies, food processing plants, data centers, housing developments, golf courses, resorts and a Grant County PUD fish hatchery are among the groups that applied for the water."

"The nearby cities of Quincy, Ephrata, Moses Lake and Warden are expected to see more businesses," said Dan Partridge, a DOE water resources program communications manager.

"A DOE economic analysis shows the new permits could add $23 million to agricultural development value and $60 million to commercial development value." - Columbia Basin Herald.

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Straight rows, woo hoo!!!

Sandhill Crane Festival

...at Columbia National Wildlife Refuge.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008902431_sandcraneslines.html

Spring Weather Four Hours Later

By sunset all was forgiven.

Spring Weather at Cayuse

A spring front blew through while I was up on the plateau plotting vineyard rows. Pretty dramatic.

A couple of big hawks floated over to check out the progress (and maybe to see if I was scaring up any critters).