Success StoryBlack Oak Vineyards



Black Oak Vineyards

Author: Daniel Becker

Planning Unit: Horticulture

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Dr. David Hall, owner of Black Oak Vineyards and Medicine Man Winery was a cooperator for two years growing approximately 1/8 of an acre of mixed vegetables each year located at his farm in Princeton, Caldwell County. The vegetables grown on-site were used to supply a portion of the fresh produce for the Timberdoodle restaurant, attached to the winery. Prior to participation, bare soil management practices for vegetable production were conducted. Bare soil management resulted in significant labor expenditures in tilling and hand weeding to eliminate competition with the intended crop. Plastic mulch, both black and white-on-black for fall/spring and summer production, respectively were applied to the area using a Rainflo model 2600 series II plastic mulch layer. Aid was also provided in ascertaining appropriate practices in the care and management of the vegetable crops planted, including but not limited to spacing, training, watering, fertilizing, and help in choosing appropriate cultural and chemical controls when disease and insect pressure arose. Vegetables grown on plastic mulch were cleaner, having less disfiguring marks or blemishes due to contact with soil or disease. Weed growth within the rows and around the plants was drastically reduced allowing for labor savings and transfer to other culturally important operations such as pest control and harvesting. The high quality produce grown on-site, supplied the Timberdoodle restaurant with fresh, in-season vegetables for dishes served to patrons, giving them a gourmet experience and encouraging further traffic for the attached winery operation.






Stories by Daniel Becker


Koru Gardens

about 5 years ago by Daniel Becker

Andrew Hammonds, owner of Koru Gardens, in Lone Oak, McCracken County is an ongoing cooperator. Vege... Read More


Black Oak Vineyards

about 5 years ago by Daniel Becker

Dr. David Hall, owner of Black Oak Vineyards and Medicine Man Winery was a cooperator for two years ... Read More


Stories by Horticulture


Bluegrass-Buckeye Yard and Garden Live

about 5 years ago by William Fountain

Bluegrass-Buckeye Yard and Garden LiveGreen industry professionals have meet annually for 20 years i... Read More


National Weather Service Revisions to the EF Scale

about 5 years ago by William Fountain

National Weather Service Revisions to the EF ScaleThe National Weather Service (NWS) in the US and N... Read More


Stories by Commercial Horticulture


New Marketing Curriculum for Commercial Horticulture Producers

New Marketing Curriculum for Commercial Horticulture Producers

about 5 years ago by Brett Wolff

In 2017, I led the development of a successful $50,000 grant proposal to the Specialty Crop Block Gr... Read More


Thank you, 'you saved my crop'

about 5 years ago by Carol Hinton

Success StoryThank you, you helped us save our cropAfter working with a new crop entrepreneur I had ... Read More