MSU Extension 4-H Plants, Soils & Gardening

Why Grow Grapes?

• Grapes are grown in all 50 states.
• In Michigan, grapes provide over 46,000 jobs (WineAmerica, 2022).
• Grapes are one of the fastest growing commodities in Michigan.

The 4-H Viticulture Project Let’s Grow Grapes: Michigan 4-H Viticulture was supported by a Michigan State University AgBioResearch Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs) grant: Michigan Wine Collaborative Talent Pipeline. This curriculum introduces youth to the grape industry, focusing on growing grapes and exploring careers in viticulture, the science and practice of cultivating grapes. The purpose of the 4-H Viticulture Project is to create an interest and provide an opportunity for 4-H youth, ages 12 to 19, to engage with industry professionals in the grape and wine industry.

Each 4-H club will partner with a vineyard and a viticulturalist to explore grape growing, understand careers in the industry, and participate in viticulture practices.

The curriculum includes two main documents: the Facilitator Guide and the Participant Notebook:

• The Facilitator Guide includes an Introduction and 13 lessons as well as an appendix , which includes the Careers section, Grape Fast Facts, Recipes, the Next Generation Science Standards, a Parent Letter, and a
  list of Animated Videos.
• The Participant Notebook contains accompanying notebook pages that interrelate to the lessons and encourage engagement to increase understanding. It also contains an appendix, which includes the Careers section, Grape Fast Facts, Recipes, a Glossary, a list of Animated Videos, and an activity “Growing Grapes in Containers.” You can encourage participants to do this last activity at home on their own.

Lessons include:
1. Michigan Viticulture: How Did Winemaking Evolve in Michigan?
2. Digging Deep: What Type of Soil Is in the Vineyard?
3. Canopy Exploration: What Affects Canopy Health?
4. Pruning Dormant Grapevines: When and Why Should Grapevines Be Pruned?
5. Grape Chemistry: Are the Grapes Ready for Harvest?
6. Spring in the Vineyard
7. Summer in the Vineyard
8. Fall in the Vineyard
9. Winter in the Vineyard
10. Vineyard Mapping: Where Should You Plant the Grapes? Part 1
11. Vineyard Mapping: Where Should You Plant the Grapes? Part 2
12. Vineyard Site Selection and Establishment: Will Grapes Thrive Here?
13. Integrated Pest Management: Why Is Pest Management Important?

Most lessons include an overview, the suggested age level of participants, the season the lesson should take place, whether a viticulturist is needed for that lesson, suggested lesson location, and the time it takes to give the lesson. Lessons also include objectives, materials needed, and the background that the facilitator needs to teach the lesson knowledgably. New vocabulary is introduced in each lesson that is also contained in one glossary. The lesson procedures are explained in sequential steps.

4-H viticulture, how to get started:

• Each 4-H viticulture club needs to establish a partnership with at least one viticulturist associated with a vineyard.
• Some activities require a vineyard and viticulturist for the outdoor learning component.
• Facilitators should print out both the Facilitator Guide for themselves as well as one Participant Notebook for each participant.
• Facilitators should read each lesson beforehand paying particular attention to reading the background information and to gathering any supplies needed.