Here's my idea: there are many properties in Eagle Rock that have rocky hillsides that are too steep for most common uses. It suddenly occurred to me that they look kind of like rocky hillsides in Italy, where they grow grapes. Besides, did you know that at one time there were acres of vineyards in places like Glendale? Prior to Prohibition, this Eagle Rock Valley did have vineyards. In Pasadena, the Johnston Lake once had a winery and the property still has some vestiges of its previous life if you know where to look.
I know one family who has actually planted a vineyard on their property just outside of Eagle Rock, near Johnston Lake in Pasadena. It's been in for a few years and is producing grapes. The wine is coming. Why not try this on a bit more organized scale? We could have a wine co-op. People could rent equipment, put their grapes together, make a co-op wine or keep them separate and make their own brand. You can make a certain amount of wine for home use without violating any government regulations.
Besides the immediate benefits of using previously used or unusable land, growing something that would give pleasure as well as food, this could benefit the atmosphere and the community. Why, no telling where this could go! Our own wine festival!
Here are some sources for more information:
http://www.backyardvineyards.com
http://www.chiff.com/a/backyard-grapes.htm
http://www.svcn.com/archives/saratoganews/09.10.97/BackyardVineyard...
http://winemakermag.com/departments/115.html
http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/sections/home_garden/hg_garden/articl...
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/food/winery/cali...
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/28/food/fo-moraga28
Do you know anyone who has expertise in this subject? Invite them to join this site and participate in the conversation. I'm sure there are people in Eagle Rock who own land that could work, don't have the skill or interest in learning how to do the process themselves, and would like to hire experienced help to plan, build, organize or maintain their vineyard.
