Thursday, May 27, 2010

PRESS RELEASE -- Hopyard Takes Root In Dodgeville, Wisconsin

Simple Earth Hops to Provide Ethically Grown Hops for Local Beer Producers

DODGEVILLE, Wisconsin (May 27, 2010)--Today, Matt Sweeny announced the launch of Simple Earth Hops, a Dodgeville, Wisconsin new farming business, who will provide ethically grown hops to local beer producers.

Simple Earth Hops is a new 1/4 acre hopyard located at Greenspirit Farm CSA in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The hopyard was founded with the idea of providing a much needed agricultural product for local craft brewers. Simple Earth Hops was established to demonstrate that local farmers can produce a consistent, sustainable supply of ultra high quality hops by working directly with local craft brewers while still maintaining a focus on ecology, the land and the people involved.

"Craft beer producers have made it clear that they desire a local source of hops. Simple Earth Hops will address this need for a local sustainable supply of hops by small locally owned craft beer producers."

Look for Simple Earth Hops to elaborate more on the details of a Grand Opening hopyard tour/beer tasting event in late July, 2010 and for the hopyard harvest tour and beer tasting in early Fall, 2011.




About Simple Earth Hops

Monday, May 10, 2010

Midwest hop varieties planted this weekend

Thanks to everyone who helped out with planting the hops on Saturday including:
  • Josh Soboleski
  • Darryl Moffitt
  • Charlie Rohwer
  • Beckie Sweeny
  • Steven Shoemaker
  • Renea Sweeny
250 plants went into the ground thanks to these generous volunteers.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Hop trellis upper cables complete

Yesterday we finished the upper trellis cables by stringing the cross and main row cables on the top of the hop trellis poles using a 2-man aerial lift rental. All the hop trellis cable hardware installation was done by the generous Mike Karnatz of Chicago.

Next up is to till the existing 10 rows of hops, mulch the rows with straw, transplant the sprouted hop plants and seed and plant some beneficial insect attracting prairie plants, herbs and flowers into the hopyard.

A press release will be distributed in the next few weeks followed up by an open house once the plants are in the ground. Hope you can make it to this next event and I will share the dates with you once we have nailed them down.