Well Bob, You know, I was going to unsubscribe tonight but I got a call from someone who said that you were telling lies about me on the internet. Well, I don't know if you're lying, misrepresenting the truth and facts or simply don't know the difference. He said that I shouldn't leave bdnow with people either believing the things you say, have people believe that I can't defend myself or that some little "punk" chased me off the internet.
Well, I told him that you were not a "punk". Just misinformed and you apparently liked to write fiction. Of course, I thoroughly chastised him for referring to you that way. I won't mention the other things he called you. Here. I appreciate the large print. We morons always appreciate it when someone talks down to our level. I'm going to respond to you in red type so you can follow what I say. I'll go slooowly. Okay? I'll use short, understandable words. First, let me say that I asked a psychologist to evaluate your email. She said, "That was demeaning, mean spirited and downright nasty. Greg, jealousy is one of the most dangerous emotions." Nothing I can add to that. you and I are competitors and you have no interest in seeing me succeed at anything, We are not competitors. I have seldom considered that I have any competition, as I cannot keep up with the work that I have and that I am being asked to do. I spend most of my time in the field trying to learn and the other half teaching what I believe. Well, there you go. The first inaccuracy. Just because you are busy doesn't mean that we aren't competitors. This sounds arrogant. Got any proof? You may rest in peace that I have no interest in seeing you fail. Please, do not make accusations such as this in the future. I'll rest in peace when I die. If you are going to claim to be accurate, I did not write the word "fail". I said "succeed". You must get your facts straight if you are going to debate me. It erodes your credibility. The fact is, you have no interest in seeing me succeed, financial or otherwise. we never met each other and don't know each other, You and I met a few years ago at the Farm Bureau office on Piner road at the talk I gave on soil health. Mr. Topolos introduced you and let you speak in his slot. I had interaction with you at the NC CCOF during your work with a certain Healdsburg vineyard…remember me Greg, I was president of NC CCOF and a member of the certification committee. Remember our little situation Greg? No, I guess I wasn't impressed enough to remember. Ralph Riva, V.P. at Wente in charge of their vineyards, told me that you were not an employee of Wente I did not claim to be an employee of Wente, There you go again. You're putting words in my mouth. Read what you just wrote. because I was hired in 1997 and up to current have been consultant to Mr. Riva (my long time friend and ally in change) and Phil Wente for the entire Wente properties, including Alameda and Monterey Counties, which includes about 3,000 acres on dozens of vineyards growing black and white grapes. Well, I'm happy for you. Ralph is a wonderful guy. Never met Phil. But I was told that he and his brother say they don't like me. Did that ever come up in your close, personal relationship with Phil? Just asking. As I was a long time consultant for Wente when you approached them….Mr. Riva and I discussed your program before you were hired. I was in favor of you being there…as I stated. I also was consultant for the nearly 150 acres of certified organic that we had at Livermore at that time. Once again, I was responsible for, with full assistance of Mr. Riva and the entire Wente Winery organization, initiating a compost program, cover crop program, mineralization program and much other work at Wente prior to your arrival, on very significant acerage including the field to which you refer along east road. So, it is clear that I took the vineyard that you were working on and made it better. Thank you for the compliment. that the vineyard you mention at Wente was a 20 acre vineyard of Chardonnay where you had 10 acres to work on and I had the other 10 acres to work on. Like I said Greg, I know her well and had data and work on this field for many years. "her"? What is this, are we talking about ships or vineyards? (Wow the thought of having intimate relations with a vineyard boggles the mind!) Well then, if you have the data, why is your memory so faulty? Didn't you ever read Ralph's comments? Allow me to quote from a mailing I made on March 6, 1998 in which I quoted your friend and mine, Ralph Riva, Vice President at Wente Winery, from a statement he wrote to me, with his permission. "I am very encouraged by the changes that have occurred in just four months of practicing Biodynamics on our Chardonnay vineyard. The first most noticeable difference is a reduction of native weed cover in vine middles. It is very obvious when comparing Biodynamic and Sustainable (YOURS) cover crop middles. Secondly, the row middles are consistently measuring 2 degrees F. higher soil temperatures in the Biodynamic vineyard compared to the sustainable (YOURS). Last is the comparison of the nitrogen nodules on the legumes. The nodules appear to be consistently larger on the Biodynamically farmed vineyard than the sustainable vineyard (YOURS) that is used as the control." I guess right about now you might want to go change your pants. Unlike you, I don't make statements I can't back up with facts. After almost one year, in Ralph Riva's written evaluation of the two side-by-side blocks, he noted that our cover crop was more lush, despite the fact that it had been driven over several times more than yours and "healthier" than yours (this, he told me at the time was in response to your critique of our cover crop), our canopy was twice the size of yours, our grape clusters were twice the size, had twice as many grapes and had twice as many clusters as your side, and that the soil temperature in the winter was 2 degrees higher on our side when compared to your side which he said indicated a higher level of soil biotic activity than your side had, another indicator of better health. In short, according to Ralph, our side was a greater success than your 10 acre block, if it indeed was your block. This claim is silly (in my opinion) and is an example of what appears to be a lack of understanding of grapevines and the goals of winegrowing in general. There was no difference in the west or east split that could be seen at any time of day, in any light in my opinion. No difference in the fruit was to be found on the east side compared with the west side. You apparently do not understand that the vines were infected with Leaf Roll Virus? That is what was making the leaves have that odd unhealthy rolled appearance, Greg. It's a grapevines disease. Your don't even mention the main problem in that block which was Leaf Roll Virus Your treatments did not change the vines, in my opinion. I think this paragraph was supposed to be in 12 point bold type. I'm glad you brought up the problem with Leafroll Virus. I almost forgot. It wasn't the main problem. It was one of many. I started with my program in the fall and by the next summer, Ralph, his field manager and I inspected the vines for this disease. Ralph remarked how surprised he was that the presence of Leafroll Virus in my block was 50% less than the previous year. As an expert on grape vines, I am sure you know that Leafroll Virus will cause grapes to ripen slowly, inconsistently (adverbs end in 'ly') and sometimes, not at all. Not only did we reduce the incidence of this disease, but my side ripened evenly and at the same time. As for your "silly" little claim that you saw no difference between the two blocks, the assessment that the canopy was twice as large, that there were twice as many grape clusters, that there were twice as many berries on the clusters and that the soil temperature on my side was 2 degrees higher in the winter were all differences that Ralph pointed out to me. Apparently he didn't point them out to you. So. Who are you calling a liar? Ralph, or me? Is your memory faulty? Or just inconvenient. We were able to save about 80% of the vines, This is a silly claim, in my opinion. The issue in the block was ripening, not cluster count, cluster size or canopy size. "Silly"? (I must restrain myself. Why don't you just hold a bullseye on your chest?) Well, I should have said "Phylloxerated vines". My mistake. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I think your responsibilities for 3,000 acres at Wente and the fact that this occurred seven years ago have clouded your memory. Do you drink? It can cause memory loss, you know. Don't you think cluster counts and canopy size are important? I thought you were a viticulture expert. I guess I was wrong. As for the vines recovering from Phylloxera, I counted them before and after. Bought myself a little clicker counter and walked the entire 10 acre vineyard. Even tagged some vines that looked particularly bad. My statement is accurate. Did you count the vines? Were you even interested? Ralph wanted to know how our Phylloxera treatment worked and if it could be considered a success. I had developed a special treatment just for Phylloxera. Ralph was very interested in it and very pleased with the results. I taught him the whole system. I guess he didn't tell you. As someone who kept such careful records on this vineyard, you would know that there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed. These included, but were not limited to: (1) A Phylloxera infestation (2) Leafroll Virus (3) Ripening problems caused by Phylloxera, Leafroll virus and poor soil management. (I'm sorry. In my professional opinion, this is one of the worst soils I've ever seen.) (4) Saving this clone before the entire vineyard was wiped out under your stewardship (5) Uneven bud break (6) Uneven bloom (7) Uneven veraison (8) The above stated uneven ripening (9) Lack of constantly good flavors in the grapes, a problem related to any number of other problems as well as an inappropriate cover crop. (10) The cover crop mix was one of the worst I have ever seen. The first thing I did after applying the preps was to get our cover crop mix planted in place of the existing one. Before, among other plants, diakon radishes and bell beans had been planted. These are two of the absolutely worst plants to grow around winegrape vines. Both have tremendously negative effects on the flavor of wine. We also removed all the burdock and other smelly plants - plants that also negatively effect the flavors in wine and which should have been removed years before. Do you know anything about how cover crops effect flavors in winegrapes? I'm an expert on this subject. The French are very familiar with this concept. All of the plants that grow in and around a vineyard influence the flavor of the wine and give it its personality. It is essential that the cover crop be made exclusively of plants that are companions, not antagonists, to winegrapes or you will damage the wine and the vines. Anyone who knows this would have removed the radishes, bell beans, burdock and other plants. Here's the rule of thumb. If it smells a lot, don't plant it. It there's too much of one plant, it can cause wine to be degraded. Pennyroyal, for example, might be okay in small amounts but over large areas, it can be deadly to the wine flavors. Read my book and you can inform yourself about this important aspect of cover cropping. Do you teach it at Napa Valley College. (For those who don't know, it's not a real 4 year college. It's a junior college. I'm not saying that's bad. Just being accurate.) So, those are the facts about Wente. If you want to dispute them, I suggest you take it up with Ralph Riva. As I have pointed out, what you have stated are not the facts and Mr. Riva not only provides the budget under which I work but is a long time friend and we followed the program that you brought very closely. Allow me to quote again from a mailing I made on March 6, 1998 in which I quoted Ralph Riva, from a statement he wrote to me, with his permission. "I am very encouraged by the changes that have occurred in just four months of practicing Biodynamics on our Chardonnay vineyard. The first most noticeable difference is a reduction of native weed cover in vine middles. It is very obvious when comparing Biodynamic and Sustainable (YOURS) cover crop middles. Secondly, the row middles are consistently measuring 2 degrees F. higher soil temperatures in the Biodynamic vineyard compared to the sustainable (YOURS). Last is the comparison of the nitrogen nodules on the legumes. The nodules appear to be consistently larger on the Biodynamically farmed vineyard than the sustainable vineyard (YOURS) that is used as the control." Well. You needed to follow it more closely. The prodigious number of your inaccuracies might lead someone to believed that you are misstating the facts (read 'lying') to discredit me on purpose. You wouldn't do that, would you? Let me ask you this. How is it that on your block, where there were high tension electrical towers at the east end, the vines under the electric wires were stunted? Weren't you able to increase the size of the vines, the canopy and the number of clusters under the wires? I can do it? I figured it out years ago. May I suggest that before you go through the litany of all the people you think hate me, you talk to Michael and actually go see his vineyards. Make an evaluation for yourself. Then get back to me You are misquoting me. I have not expressed, nor would I ever, suggest that anyone would hate you for the work you have done. Please refer to the psychologist's analysis of your email. You are "demeaning, mean spirited and downright nasty" and "jealous". You're right. Perhaps "hate" is to strong a word. However, as you pointed out yourself, there were (apparently) some "spectacular failures" that you had a hand in. Greg, I live in Sonoma County. I can see the Forestville vineyard and the Sonoma Mountain vineyard from the road just fine. Yes. And I freely admit that in the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes and there were some misunderstandings between me and several clients. I learn from my mistakes. I had more than a "hand in". I made some major blunders. I tried things that no one ever tried before. For example, one year, Michael and I attempted to grow Chardonnay and Napa Gamay without applying sulfur. We thought the biodynamic preparations and horn sulfur would protect the vines. On this two acre vineyard, we lost half the crop to powdery mildew that showed up two weeks before harvest. I've never told anyone this story. On another vineyard (ZD Wines), in a 3.5 acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon, we applied the preps in the fall, along with our cover crop mix for red grapes (it's different for white grapes) and waited for bud break. This vineyard had everything wrong. Old vines, phylloxera, Eutypa and other fungal diseases, Leafroll and other viruses, low yields, low quality and so on. About 80% of the block was planted on rock and the other 20% was planted over the septic system. Those vines stayed green all season without irrigation. In the spring, for the first time, I was told by Norm DeLuze, the vines broke bud uniformly - which is typical of our vineyards. (How about yours?) According to Norm, the vines produced double the number of flower clusters compared to the year before. The cover crop was so thick that once I almost stepped on a gopher snake. Needless to say, Norm's gopher problem disappeared that year. We were ecstatic. But, we soon found out that our optimism was misplaced. When we went back just after bloom, fully half ot the flowers had died. What happened? Was it something we did? As an expert, you know that sufficient water during flowering on any crop is crucial to the success of the yield. Well, it turned out that old Norm forgot to turn on the irrigation system. I think the only reason he admitted this was that we could see that all the vines over the septic tank did not lose any flowers. At first, he intimated that the loss of flowers was our fault. But on presentation of the evidence, he graciously admitted that it was entirely his fault. On another ZD vineyard in the Carneros, we applied a "save the vines" series of sprays after a late spring frost. He only lost about 10% (his estimate, not mine) of his grapes. Unfortunately, on another issue entirely, I recommended to Norm that he apply compost in the spring and fall. Never in the summer when it is too hot, the compost dries up and all the good bacteria and such die in the sun. So, Norm spread his compost on July 11, in 100 degree heat and complained about it. All this is bad enough. But our worst problem was with the winemaker Robert DeLuze who apparently considered us competitors or frauds, I don't know, but he was hyper-critical of everything we did and blamed us for all the failures (which we had absolutely nothing to do with). We learned what every car dealer knows. If you don't have husband and wife in agreement, or the winemaker and vineyard manager in complete agreement, the whole project is doomed. Hell, we could improve the wine at Wente significantly, and Ralph knows it, or any other winery anywhere for that matter, by the simple (legal) addition of a few ounces of our homeopathic field sprays to the wine before bottling. Wente winemakers apparently aren't open to new ideas. Lab tests performed by ETS Laboratories in St. Helena on red wine (Claret) show an average 10.5% reduction in phenols after the simple addition of a few drops of our remedies to the wine. You know about phenols, don't you? They make up the tannins in wine. That means that the tannins are softened. That's - a - gooood - thing. It works exactly the same when our field sprays are applied to grapes. All three vineyard managers at Sutter Home agreed that when compared to the untreated block, the treated side had softer tannins after treatment. You got anything like that? So, we're breaking new ground. We're learning. We get better every year. And we've done it without any help from the BDA, Demeter, JPI, Davis or anyone else other than Michael Topolos. I would be happy to have my methods and products Evaluated by the best in the business. You don't seem to realize that you have already been evaluated by the best in the business Whoa!! Hold the phone! That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard and it is the single most important reason that I even took the time to reply to your stupid, vindictive, ignorant, sophomoric, moronic diatribe. Name ONE so called "best in the business". LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. THIS IS AN OUT-AND-OUT LIE AND YOU KNOW IT - OR SHOULD YOU LITTLE RAT BASTARD! I OUGHT TO SUE YOUR ASS FOR SLANDER! Three years ago, I all but stopped working with vineyards other than Michael's because my program was advancing so rapidly that I could not keep up with it. With the addition of the homeopathics three years ago, and the threatened lawsuit from Demeter for saying that we were "biodynamic", I backed off everything until I could reevaluate my system and my methods. The system I now have in place (Agri-Synthesis®, not biodynamics) is in significant ways much different from what I was doing. We no longer use the raw biodynamic preps and this has changed everything. The concepts and principles that underpin our program have been defined and refined. Entirely new concepts such as "biocomplexity" are the basis for what we now do. You don't know what "biocomplexity" is, do you? How about the true nature of disease? The role of fungi, bacteria and viruses? How we've been able to cure vines of every major disease? How to create an archetype of a winegrape? Companion planting and how the individual plants influence the flavors in wine? Patterns of energy? How to design a vineyard using the Golden Mean and Feng Shui? How Steiner's remedies work? How and why we've eliminated all midseason pruning, tipping and deleafing? How we can cause a pruning wound to heal up overnight? How we can speed up or slow down ripening with just a few simple sprays? How we can manage a vineyard for only $500 per acre per year, produce 6 to 8 tons of gold medal grapes on 776 forty year old vines that were slated for replanting? How to use compost to influence flavors in winegrapes? How to cure vines of disease? Do I need to go on? You don't know any of this. I'm wasting my time. That's all. Neither you nor any "best in the business", who you refuse to reveal, Sen. Joe McCarthy, know anything about any of these concepts and since you all don't know (a) you cannot evaluate my program and (b) you'll never be as good as you can be - or as good at this as I now am. Nobody, other than Michael Topolos, three other vineyard owners and one consultant (who saw it at our recent workshop) have even seen my program, let alone YOU! And I mean that in the most condescending way. and that is why I asked you to come forward with your success and show us the results, because this has gone far enough. THIS HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH? FAR ENOUGH! WHAT PLANET TO YOU LIVE ON? YOU MADE THESE VICIOUS, UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS, WITHOUT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE AND NO NAMES OF ANY SO-CALLED "BEST" EXPERT TO SUPPORT ANY OF YOUR CONTENTIONS. IF IT WASN'T SO SORRY, IT WOULD BE LAUGHABLE. I TAKE THAT BACK. IT IS LAUGHABLE. IN FACT, IT'S HILARIOUS! You have been evaluated by the best in the business already and you don't seem to know it. Northern California has many sensitive and loving souls working for vines. Yeah. And I'm sure every one of them reading this thinks you're the next Christ you're such a wonderful, sensitive guy yourself. Does the phrase "suck up" mean anything to you? Listen you little bonehead. I know there are more than 20 men and women out there who are sincerely trying to do a good job and be responsible environmentalists. You're just USING them to bolster your position for attacking me - since you have no facts or evidence. (Well. Let's see. Um. I know George Bush. I guess that makes me presidential material.) Every one of them could do a better job with just the simple addition of our field sprays to their program. But you wouldn't know anything about that because you've never used my field sprays nor have you learned or used my viticulture management program. You do know that Michael Topolos was named Sonoma County Environmental Businessman of the Year and other environmental awards and recognition such as many television documentaries on his work? He - credits - our - system - for - making - this - possible. Did I go slooow enough for you? In this debate, you're unarmed. I can think of 20 men and women who deserve all credit and have been practicing their craft for 30 years or more and who are improving wine quality and ecosystem health every season with the techniques that you seem to hold as boring or below you. How would you know? You have proven beyond any doubt that you don't know what I think. For the others enjoying this little tet-a-tet, AgriSynthesis® is a synthesis of everything good in agriculture, be it conventional, organic, sustainable, biodynamic, permaculture or anything else. I don't hold the techniques you are apparently referring to as "boring or below me", you little twit, I embrace them and have integrated them into my system. Biodynamic was still in its infancy WHAT? Well, once again. Your reaction to this is completely predictable. It only goes to show that you have no idea what Steiner did, you are completely ignorant of the spiritual laws, concepts and principles underpinning his work and what the potential his remedies are. I guess that when I told you that we use his remedies in our skin care sprays and we've seen miracles happen. Went right over your head. In the 1930's, when the Koliskos were working on making homeopathic remedies out of preparations, that was a step in the right direction - as proven by Peter, Glen and myself. So it was that some 70 years later, their work came to fruition through us. Steiner himself encouraged their work, which you would know if you ever heard of the name "Kolisko". It is painfully obvious that I know more about Steiner's work than you will ever know. Take my word for it. We haven't scratched the surface. While you're at it, how many people do you know who have actually used our new field sprays? How many have you used? After your "earlier" performances I was thoroughly convinced not to ever use anything that you produced and found no compelling reason(s) to. Yeah? What "performances"? Let's hear all the gory details. Or are you making this up too. Methinks you rely too much on the opinions of others and not enough on your own capabilities. That makes you a gossip, not a scientist. You probably know a lot about dirt and how to schmoose clients. You don't know a sh*t about Steiner or what I do. Why didn't you come to Michael Topolos' and my organic viticulture workshop a few weeks ago? You were invited. I haven't seen you on the organic vineyard tour in Sonoma County. I was not interested in attending. Too bad. You would have learned something and you wouldn't look so stupid now. I have seveal clients who have attened previously. (It's "several".) To the best of my recollection, the last time I gave a workshop for the public was over three years ago at the Topolos Winery. Do you always rely on the opinions of others instead of forming your own? Did you go to college? Because in college, you're supposed to learn critical thinking. Maybe you missed that lecture? Over the past many years, I hold one (1) workshop per month, usually in the field, on the topic of soil health, disease prevention and wine quality. I teach the cover crop class at Napa Valley College and am frequent speaker at state wide and national events. I sincerely believe that that understanding health, of the ecosystem, is my job and due to my interest in the topic I find it fun to speak with those who are interested to hear and am busy. Well. I, for one, am impressed. What do you know about cover crops? Do you understand that it is just as important to have biodiversity as it is to have biocomplexity? Do you know that grasses can cause vines to get diseased? Can you list all the major companion plants for winegrape vines? What do you know, anyway? Well now that I've completed my work in vineyard management, I'll be hitting the speaking trail too. Why don't we do lunch sometime? Frankly, I have little interest (and have found little value) in the majority of "products" over the years. Then you're an ignoramus. I used to take keen interest and still follow all products that I can …but it is the use of cultural practices, compost, cover crops, mineral balance (soil and plant) and having a heart for life that is 99% of what it takes to grow quality food and maintain balance in the ecosystem….not more products, in my opinion. It's the systematic use of fundamental techniques, technology, methods and aspiring to quality and a respect for health and life that counts most, in my opinion. There you go again, Bobby. You don't have a clue what Steiner's and my remedies do. Well, let me inform you. They set the stage for plants to reach their zenith, their archetype, their greatest potential. They overlay patterns of energy into which plants, minerals, animals and people can grow. They make it possible for plants to make the connection to the Cosmos and God. I find it very interesting that throughout your oration, you never mention spiritual science or God. Do you believe in God. 'Cause if you don't, we can stop right here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Steiner mentioned God and the spiritual science in the opening statements of his lectures. Humm. I wonder why? I'll tell you why. We live in both a spiritual and physical world. If you don't understand that, you don't understand anything. Steiner learned spiritual science by studying ancient texts and scripture and clairvoyantly reading from what I call the Cosmic Encyclopedia. He understood it better than anyone before or since. What he KNEW was that in order to explain anything, those who failed to take into consideration both sciences were only getting half the story. That was Steiner's, Burbank's and Carver's genius That's another lecture you apparently missed. Have you ever heard of George Washington Carver? Sigh. It's a comment on the human condition I guess, that the people who are my worst critics don't know me, have never met me, know nothing about my work and have never used any of my products or methods. I have held my tongue for a long time regarding your claims and many of us who are silent do know you. You should have held it longer and a lot tighter. You have no personal knowledge about what I do, why I do it or have ever used my field sprays. You have no basis to criticize me. You have no credibility. And you think you have no accountability. You are wrong. You have been evaluated Greg…and by the best that viticulture has to offer here and now. THAT'S STILL A LOAD OF CRAP AND YOU KNOW IT! WHO ARE THEY? NAME NAMES! YOU LYING LITTLE WEASEL! You really should detract your claim of being some sort of expert and that of having done more that anyone else because it just aint so. The correct term is "withdraw", not "detract". Look it up. Maybe you are confusing it with "extract" - as in your foot from your mouth. Buy my book, try my system, use my field sprays. Then get back to me. I have met you in person. I have listened to some of your public "performances" such as at the Napa County Ag Commissioners meeting in Napa on GWSS. I have followed your work, for several years, both at Wente, and three other sites….you know them and refer to them yourself (but without name) in your reply to my simple question which was the request to allow us to know where it is that you have had success. I should be impressed? No. Honored. I don't do "performances". I say what I know to be true. Do you? If I understand your answer…it is at Topolos Winery that is the only location where you have success. Is that right? I've listed others. We have over 1,000 acres that have employed our system and used our products in the U.S. and Canada. It most certainly was not at Wente, nor anyplace else where I have had the opportunity to walk the fields where you have worked, to date, in my opinion. Okay. Let's take this one step at a time. I'll go real slow. I'm sure you are as tired of reading this as I am of writing it. I've proven beyond a reasonable doubt that your memory of Wente is faulty at best, outright lying at worst. I've quoted Ralph Riva in DIRECT contradiction to your statements. I stated that Ralph Riva made an evaluation at the end of my term there and his conclusion was that the side I worked on was better in every given parameter than the control, which was your "sustainable" side. I have it in writing and published it in a newsletter I wrote six years ago with his permission. You can ask Ralph to refresh your memory. Or you can choke on it. Once again, Sen. Joe McCarthy, you talk of "walking fields where I worked" but you refuse to state what fields, where, when or give any other information that would lend credibility to your remarks. You refuse to state what you saw, what varietals they were, why they were not up to your standards and who owned them. You're making it up. One more time! Read it and weep! A quote from a mailing I made on March 6, 1998 in which I quoted Ralph Riva, from a statement he wrote to me, with his permission. "I am very encouraged by the changes that have occurred in just four months of practicing Biodynamics on our Chardonnay vineyard. The first most noticeable difference is a reduction of native weed cover in vine middles. It is very obvious when comparing Biodynamic and Sustainable (YOURS) cover crop middles. Secondly, the row middles are consistently measuring 2 degrees F. higher soil temperatures in the Biodynamic vineyard compared to the sustainable (YOURS). Last is the comparison of the nitrogen nodules on the legumes. The nodules appear to be consistently larger on the Biodynamically farmed vineyard than the sustainable vineyard (YOURS) that is used as the control." If this gets me blackballed from bdnow forever, it'll be worth every minute I put into it, loser. Greg Willis Agri-Synthesis®, U.S. Napa, CA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ BDNow mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can unsubscribe or change your options at: http://lists.envirolink.org/mailman/listinfo/bdnow
