Dry farming is more than just skipping irrigation—it's a deliberate practice that starts with soil stewardship. Lauryn Leeds Pesch of Chavez & Leeds Family Vineyards and Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting shares her deep-rooted knowledge in dry farming, a technique that relies solely on stored winter and spring rainfall to meet a vine’s needs. Learn about a $2M research initiative with the Department of Water Resources exploring water conservation in coastal California vineyards, the 5-step cultivation process, and how a new mapping tool can help you find and learn from neighboring dry-farmed vineyards.  

Resources:  

• 151: The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Soil Health  
• 153: The Role of Nematodes in Soil Health  
• 171: How to Farm Wine Grapes for Climate Change
• 177: The Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi with Paul Schreiner  
• 181: Can Applying Compost Reduce Water Use? 
• California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative
• California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative Dry Farming
• Dry Farming in Coastal California Vineyards Project
• Lauren Leeds Pesch Instagram @calidryfarming  
• Lauren Leeds Pesch LinkedIn

Vineyard Team Programs: 

• Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate
• Online Courses – DPR & CCA Hours
• SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet  
• Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year – Discount Code PODCAST25
• Vineyard Team – Become a Member