111: Planting a Miyawaki Mini Forest for Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity at Chamisal Vineyards

Every vineyard has a portion of the property that is non-productive, but are there ways to maximize the benefits of this land? Fintan du Fresne, General Manager and Winemaker for both Chamisal Vineyards and Maine Wines and Christian Rodriguez, Assistant Vineyard Manager at Chamisal Vineyards found the answer to this question with a Miyawaki Mini-forest. Conceived by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, these mini-forests can take be developed in spaces as small as 30 square yards.

Development of a coastal oak woodland at Chamisal Vineyards began by excavating three feet down, adding mulch and compost, and planting 400 to 500 native plants at a high density. This process enables the forest to establish three to four times as rapidly as it would in a natural setting. The established forest will not only proffer a habitat for local fauna but, also provide carbon sequestration. The next phase of this project includes a partnership with Cal Poly State University to pipe C02 from the winery into the forest to see how much carbon sequestration is possible.

References:

• 92: Regenerative Agriculture
• 102: Effects of Landscape Management on Pest Control in Vineyards
• Akira Miyawaki
• Chamisal Vineyards
• Conservation Plan Template
• Malene Wines
• Las Pilitas Nursery
• SIP Certified
• Vineyard Team's ‘Juan Navarez Memorial’ Scholarship

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