Food Forest Harvest: Grapes. After 5 years, thr first grape harvest has come

We planted several varieties of grape vines to climb nitrogen fixing black alder trees in the food forest. After 5 years the vines have completely climbed the trees. The grapes are doing their intended job of creating physical stress to encourage the tree to release nitrogen to the surrounding plants. Now, we are harvesting the first bunches of grapes. These grapes are Niagra. The ethic of return the surplus back to the system is starting to take on a whole new meaning as the plants we are growing are starting to mature and produce. Soon we will have more than we have time to harvest and process alone. Thankfully most plants have a job beyond the fruit they produce so if we miss a harvest a yeild is still being obtained. In this case, if I am unable to harvest the grapes and hops vining up the trees, they are still doing the work of stressing the tree providing a yeild of nitrogen fertilizer.

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