Light and Water

I happened to catch the sun shining through a vine leaf (a bright green new leaf) and thought that this is the basis of all we are and ever will be. We should give thanks to those organisms billions of years ago who evolved photosynthesis in the first place and transformed the Earth into a place fit for life and who through their cooperation and evolution have given us all the living beauty around us today. They have also given us ourselves and for this too we should be thankful.

Light and water. Water is the other basic thing without which we would be as nothing.

Today it has rained for the first time in almost three months and how glad the plants are to see it. So am I, as this means I will not have to water my seedlings and young plants today. The best water comes from the sky of course. Irrigation is one of those wonderful human inventions which may provide spectacular results for a short time but which will end in salty tears.

Which brings me via this circuitous route to a recent talk given by Australian winemaker Ron Laughton at the Natural Wine Fair. Simply stated: if you have to irrigate then you are in the wrong place. Ron talked about biodynamics and sustainability in a very sensible, pragmatic and clear way using implacable logic.

If we wish to continue on this Earth we must take heed and work with natural resources, not simply take them. We will be surprised by the results as I was delighted by Ron's Jasper Hill wines. True Australian wine with a sense of place expressed elegantly and precisely.