The importance of grassing

Viticulture and permaculture

Roagna frames farming as cooperation with a constantly changing natural environment. Its thinking finds parallels in permaculture and Masanobu Fukuoka’s “do-nothing” agriculture, where intervention in natural cycles is minimised. Woodland is retained and vines coexist with a broad community of plants and animals.

The change after 2001

Grass had been mown once annually until 2001. Thereafter the vineyards moved to complete grass cover. Pira now supports wild mint, flowers, mushrooms, herbs, shrubs, insects, butterflies, birds, earthworms and small animals.

Trampled vegetation becomes a natural mulch, keeping the ground cooler and slowing evaporation. Pruning wood remains between the rows and decomposes over roughly two years. Because the vineyard is treated as a balanced habitat, no fertiliser or manure is added.