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

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.

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.

Building the hop trellis

This weekend we built the 1/4 acre hop trellis in the rain.

There are so may team member volunteers and others to thank including Bryan Nelson, Aran Madden, Scot Hansen, Mike Karnatz, Andy Anderson, Matt Girman, all of the Kerr family, Gene from the extension office, my lovely wife Renea Sweeny, my sister Beckie Sweeny and bro Darryl, Bob Matts, Barb Kalicki, Roger Reynolds and all of the crew from the black locust hauling mission.

Here are some pictures which were taken by Barb Kalicki... thanks Barb!



Here are some pictures taken by the Simple Earth Hops Resident Photographer, my sister, Beckie Sweeny.

Simple Earth Hops - Trellis Setup

Hop Trellis Setup Weekend

Two weeks ago, the hop rows were plowed and the hop rhizomes which were potted a month ago are sprouting like crazy.

This weekend, a crew of 10 will volunteer their time to help set up the hop trellis at our Dodgeville hopyard. Aran Madden of Furthermore Beer has been confirmed as a guest along with a few others.

This is a private event which we will be providing food and drinks all weekend long including breakfasts, lunches and dinners and beer.

Hauling hop trellis poles

Thanks to Brad Butnik at the WI DNR, Simple Earth Hops acquired a permit to cut and remove 30 black locust hop trellis poles. These black locust hop trellis poles where hauled out of the woods in Avoca, Wisconsin on Friday, April 2, 2010 thanks to the support of an awesome crew including: Beckie Sweeny, Bob Matts, Darryl Moffitt, Greg Erickson, Larry Hale, Roger Reynolds, Todd Lippert Smith and Trey Matts. Then unloaded at the Simple Earth Hops hopyard in Dodgeville, WI.

Simple Earth Hops - Hop Pole Haulin