The first year planting on the southern slope, 1997. Mars, Vanessa, Reliance, and Himrod table grapes nearly all survived a Darwinian first year of water stress, and every mildew and fungus in the plant pathology book - they are tough! In 1998, Ramon has added "a mano", 650 hybrid wine grapevines ("How I spent my spring vacation"), including Ravat 34, Chancellor, Frontenac, Melody, Cayuga, Foch ...... He also added Marquis table grapes. Ramon is experimenting with cover-cropping to improve the vineyard soil and control weeds and erosion. Noah announced he wanted to grow "some non-alcoholic grapes for grapejuice with no pesticides", so he and Ramon together planted 5 Concord grapevines around the silo (5/17/98), "Noah's vineyard". Pictures soon!