That’s the number of trees Gjoa Taylor and partner John Bilodeau have planted at their Naramata Bench ‘Gjoa’s Vineyard’ property, on the agricultural west side of Okanagan Lake just north of Penticton town site.
“I left a demanding job with a plan to be a farmer again,” is how Gjoa describes some major life changes. “I grew up on a farm in Alberta. A desire to be closer to the land again inspired this enterprise.”
Just beyond expansive windows where I’m sitting, an attractive treed rockery opens onto almost five acres of grape vines that stream toward a colourful palisade of 40 – 60 year old native trees. There are cottonwoods, red osier dogwood, trembling aspen…naturalized weeping willow...and, within their property, their own tree additions on the verge of Strutt Creek, a protected Environmental Reserve.
Gjoa gestures toward additional plantings on their east and south property lines.
Pleased at my response to the verdant panorama Gjoa adds, “The view is always changing with a million shades of green! By autumn there’s every colour of the rainbow.”
Tree additions, the restoration of a small wetland, and Fire Smart removal of fourteen trees meant “A big job”, though well worth it.
On a tour of Gjoa and John’s 7.5 acre property, I learn that saving, adding and maintaining trees has been a challenging project. Many early tree plantings were unsuccessful. “We also struggled with some existing European white birch, a beautiful tree…sadly not drought tolerant and prone to attack by birch borer insects.”
Fortunately John found creative ways to retain the trunks of the white birch…as whimsical pencils. The white bark, slender trunks and sharpened coloured pencil lead tops have lent themselves to unique wildlife homes.
“Obviously, with also a 30% loss to our Excelsa cedar experiments we needed a new tree plan,” Gjoa confirms. Tree choices now must be drought tolerant, fire retardant where possible, with an eye on the tree relationship to vineyard vines.
“It’s critical to avoid overshadowing the vines,” John explains. “Fortunately we’ve discovered that paper birch, given sufficient set-back, does allow good light through.”
To avert a major loss if a problem arises with one species, Gjoa & John have focused on a variety of tree species.
Among their hard won successes are Cleveland Select pear, Scarlet English hawthorn, Golden rain tree, Ivory Silk lilac, European hornbeam, Amur red maple, mountain ash, columnar aspen and thoughtfully selected evergreens such as Douglas fir, Ponderosa and mountain pine.
Choosing more wisely has also meant trying exotic species like the Eastern redbud that brightens a deck area with bright pink blossoms in the spring, and golden leaves in the fall. It also attracts lots of bees!
Pollinators, birds and small wildlife are encouraged, except for pocket gophers. They’re given a quick exit. Rain catchment from the barn roof and irrigation water has been channelled to the tree additions. When necessary, John has hand-watered.
“A lot of work with lots of professional help too,” John offers, scanning their well-treed and refreshingly ‘cool’ vineyard property.
To contact Dianne please go to writer@diannebersea.com
