Permaculture is all about stacking functions and creating symbiotic systems, and I try to follow these tenets in how I keep my vineyard. I intercrop my vineyard with vegetables, flowers, and green manures, not only to make use of what would otherwise be empty space, but to reduce competition with the grape vines and to cut back on the need for mowing and other maintenance.
I’ve been doing some experimenting with my low tunnel this season, not only planting crops under it, but adding wheels so that I can easily move it on and off the bed. It’s great for season extension and for protecting the crops from rabbits and deer, and it fits and moves perfectly between the rows of grapes in my vineyard.