今日ナガノパープルと
シャインマスカットの
生産技術研修会が
市内にある果樹試験場で
あった。

例年ながら多数の参加者があり、
開会30分前につくと既に会場は半分ほど
埋まり、この後開会前には残りが
埋まり更にイスが多数追加された。
パープルとシャインということで
産地化を目指す須坂、中野が圧倒的に
栽培面積が広いが、千曲や上田も
拡大している。

私もパープルは何本か植えているし、
シャインは今年ほんの少し植えた。
巨峰に変わり高値取引できる品種
ということだが、栽培技術が
確立しているとは言い難く、また
かなり手間が掛かるので個人的に
栽培面積を増やすのは巨峰以上に
大変だ。葡萄栽培農家の救世主に
なれるのか。
期待はしているのだが…。

（見本にするなという仕立て方=実物を見るとよくわかります）

I attended the conference held at
the Fruit Research Institute here
about the production procedures of
new varieties, Nagano Pruple and
Shine Mascut.

As usual, many grape growers attended
the conference. I arrived there about 30
mintues before the opening of the meeting
when about the half of the seats were
taken. Soon after, the remaining half was
seated and many more chairs werer brought in.
As today's conference was focused on only
these two cultivars, those growers from
the areas which have been trying to be
the leading producing areas were the main
attendants. Especially those from Suzaka
and Nakano where the growing areas are the
biggest as well as other area like Nagano,
Chikuma and Ueda which are trying to catch up.

I have some Nagano Purple vines in my vineyards
and a few vines of Shine Mascut were planted
this year. The organizers have been promoting
these two kinds as they can fetch higher sales
prices.However,the growing techiques has not been
established yet and the grapes need a lot of cares
which Kyoho grape usually do not need. So one grower
cannot expand the vineyard for these kinds so easily.
Everybody wonders if they can be a Messiah for the
grape growers who suffer from the high production
cost and low sales price of Kyoho grape.

朝散歩していると飯山線が
通る。時に2両、時に1両。
夕刻よりは朝のほうが
沢山通るような。

これも散歩の途中見つけた
なすを植えた畑。肥料袋を
風除けに使うのだが、
さすが雪国、イボタケの変わりに
ストックで袋を立てています。

スリーエスワールドワイドの
皆さんが信濃百年の後
畑に来て、巻きひげ取りやら
草取りで農作業のお手伝いを
して頂きました。
涼しすぎる中なれない農作業を
皆さんありがとうございました。

A few pictures from the morning.
While walking around the inn,
I found trains running the
Iiyama line. Sometime just one car
and other times two cars. There were
many more tarins running in the morning
than evening.

The egg plants are planted in the small
yards here and there by the road.
Fertilizer bags are used against wind
and the ski stocks are used instead of
poles to stand the bags. It can tell where
I am.

After leaving Shinano Hyakunen, the memebers
of 3S Worldwide company visited my vineyard
and experineced a bit of farm work. They
helped me to remove tendrils from the wires
and to clear around the vine trunks by cutting
weeds. Thank you very much for your help
in the chilly and windy farm.

須坂から車で1時間ほどの飯山にある
オーベルジュ。古い民家を使った
食事がメインの民宿。なかなか予約が
取れない隠れ家的料理宿。
何ヶ月も前に友人が予約を入れていて
誘われて訪ねることができた。

田舎の原風景のようなロケーション。
千曲川がゆったりと水量豊富に流れ
その脇を飯山線が通る、その間の
集落に溶け込んだ宿。周りは水田に
裏山、花や野菜が自然に植えてある
小道。

この時期山菜をメインにした
気取らないが身体に良さそうな料理。
囲炉裏で焼いた岩魚の干物に
美味しいお米、新潮最新号に紹介された
地元のアスパラガスとみゆき豚のしゃぶしゃぶ。
料理の数が圧倒的に多い。

（この後も料理がどんどんとでてきます）

朝もまた大変なおご馳走。おかゆに
ご飯に自家製パン。残すのではなく
お昼のおむすびやおやつにと
持たせてくれる。

ゆったりとした風景の中
美味しいものを沢山頂きました。
なんといっても高橋さん夫妻の
明るく歯切れの好い、しかも自然な
心配りの対応が一番のご馳走でした。
やはりこういう「人」がいて
そこに人が引かれるのだと思いました。
人に会って、自分も人に優しくなれそうな
気にさせる、そんな時が過ごせます。

（目を閉じているのは、シャッターを切るときに皆が目をパッチリあけて
いるように、奥さんが「ハイ目を閉じて～」といったからです）

It is an Auberge (a French word for
a restaurant inn) in Iiyam city within
about one hour drive from Suzaka.
The old Japanese farm house is used
as a restaurant inn. It is very famous
and it is very difficult to make a
booking. As one of my friends made the
reservation a few month ago, I was invited
and was able to visit this hidden hut.

It is in such a beautiful location where
Chikuma river runs calm with lot of water
and Iiayma railway line goes along the
river. In the heart of Japanese country
scenery, the inn stays quietly among the
quiet local community. Rice paddies, hills
and small roads with flowers and vegetable
yards along them.

The dishes with many wild vegetables from the
sorrounding mountains were served with half dried
local fish grill, tasty white rice, shabu-shabu of
local asparagus and pork which is introduce
in the latest famous Shincho magazine. The amount of dishes
would requires sound body to digest them all.

The breakfast is another big one. Porridge, rice and
home bakes bread with so many healthy food with many
vegetables. The leftovers are made into rice balls
for lunch or snacks.

In such slow scenery and good old
atmospher, I enjoyed a lot
such wonderful dishes and the ambient.
Among all, the best
one was the nice and heatful services rendered
by Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi during such short stay.
Their kind attention to the guests is superb and
no comparison.

They made me feel that the people are attracted
by the people at most. The people is the most
important element of all the charms that make
the guests come all the way from the distance.
By seeing such a people, you can feel that you
will be able to be kind to other people, too.
You can experience such a nice time there.

今日と明日、アートパークで
森の中のクラフトフェアやってます。
ちょうど私の巨峰畑の目の前で、
今朝誘引と芽かきに行ったら、
準備中でしたが、今は
盛況です。

Crafts Fair in the Woods is held at
Suzaka Art Park today and tomorrow.
I went to shoot training and
disbudding at one of my Kyoho
Vineyards this moring which is just
in front of the Art Park, the participants
were busy preparing for the opeing.
But now there are many people enjoying
strolling and looking at the crafts
displayed.

日滝原は全面に灌水が
入っていて、天気が続くと
スプリンクラーで灌水が
始まる。予定を良く見ておかないと
畑に行っても作業ができない
ということがある。

昨日に引き続いて巻きひげの
除去。途中チャドクガを見つける。
シャルドネの畑にて。

The irrigation system is
installed in all the Hitakihara
area and the irrigation by
sprinkler starts after certain
number of dry days. It is mainly
for apple orchards but may be
useful for grape growing, too.
Some say it is not necessary for
wine grape. I would say it would
be good for very young vines.
For mature vines, I do not know.

If you went to your farm, you would
have to check the irrigation scheudle
otherwise you cannot work under the
water.

I continued to remove the left tendrils.
I happened to find certain moss in the
chardonnay vineyard.