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Project Genesys, located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, is a research project. This vineyard was planted in spring of 2025 and serves as a research station to study and understand how to improve cost-efficient organic farming practices in cold-climate grape growing regions.
"Conventional viticulture focuses on attempting to control different variables posing risks to demanded outcomes. You cannot demand from nature what nature does not want to give. When we step back, look at nature, and model our efforts likewise, nature will self-regulate and continue to produce fruitful outcomes." — Zach, 2026
Core Principles of the Vision
Core Principles of the Vision
1) The Concord grape is not a sugary dessert food. It is an extraordinarily powerful biochemical food product of pharmacological nature. The Concord posses a perfectly balanced & fine tuned array of simplex sugars, polyphenols, carotenoids, & other highly beneficial nutrients. When consumed, this balanced "pharmacy of nature," works beautifully in optimizing & accelerating the eliminatory, protective & regenerative functions of the human body.
2) If natures pharmacy is to be utilized for the benefit of the world population, then a simple & scalable infrastructure must be established to meet the needs of even the most remote regions.
3) If humans are to trust natures pharmacy to their long term health, then it should be constructed in a way that is beautiful, simple & of profound utility. Men, women & children will be able to see the fruits of this vision & be empowered with joy & promise, not fear & dissolution.
4) If natures pharmacy is to provide superior, long-term beneficial outcomes to our health, then it should remain affordable so that all people, regardless of their financial situation, can afford to utilize the divine benefits to their advantage. The vision will not be designed in a way that excludes classes of people or subjects individuals to a creditor-debtor relationship.
5) The vision will not be constructed in a way that utilizes harmful chemical poison to protect the interests of profit. The "poison for profit" agenda will not exist within the confines of this vision.
2024- 2025
2024- 2025
October, 2024: Site Selection.
An old historic dairy cow pasture previously used for backyard gardening & sweet corn farming is granted for use by the Schwaab Family LLC. Site is selected for optimal sun exposure, drainage, airflow, & low soil compaction.
April, 2025: Site Preparation.
The site dimensions, row spacing, fencing requirements & initial soil preparation begins. Holes are dug to prepare for the vines.
April, 2025: Vine Selection.
After careful consideration, Vitus Labrusca or "Concord" grapevines are selected for their soil compatibility, disease resistance, winter hardiness, vigor, & fruit quality.
April, 2025: Vine Planting.
105 Concord grapevines are planted in 12 rows running North to South to optimize seasonal sun exposure. Vine tubes are installed to mitigate deer damage prior to the fencing being installed.
May, 2025: Bud Break Begins, Vines Emerge for the Season.
Average nightly temperatures above 42*F trigger the newly planted grapevines to begin bud swell and eventually bud break. The vineyard comes to life.
June 2025: Vigor Increasing, Barrier Fence Installed.
The vigor begins to noticeably increase as the temperatures steadily rise during the Spring. A Permanent barrier fence is installed prior to the vines growing outside of their grow tubes.
July 2025: Vigor Increasing More, End Posts Installed.
The Concord begin to really take off as the Summer is underway. Round cedar end posts are installed for the rows & a temporary line, prior to permanent wiring, is strung across each row.
August 2025: Canopy Control & Disease Management.
Diluted hydrogen peroxide, sun exposure optimization, & in-season shoot removal are the only inputs used to manage the vineyard in it's first year. High early-season humidity and long-rainy periods pose a substantial challenge in mitigating disease pressure.
September 2025: Vines Prepare for Winter.
Seasonal vigor and overcoming organic management challenges result in a successful first season. Vigor begins to slow & the vine canes begin to brown and harden preparing for the long Wisconsin Winter.
2026 - Present
2026 - Present
After a challenging & rewarding first season, the vineyard takes a rest during the winter months. Important post-season reviews take place & preparations for the 2026 are planned. As February comes to an end & March begins to arrive, the first footsteps are taken out at the vineyard since fall of 2025. Winter injury assessments are taken and Springtime work slowly begins marking the beginning of the 2026 season.
March, 2026: Springtime Preparations Begin.
Winter injury assessments are taken & the 2026 organic management plan is revised & finalized before pruning begins.
March, 2026: Vine Pruning.
The vineyard is pruned. Optimal growth is selected to be positioned into the 2026 vineyard architecture and weak growth is removed.
April, 2026: Bud Swell Begins.
Nightly temperatures begin to rise again triggering the bud swell period to begin. The vines slowly begin to come to life again & officially reach the beginning of their second season.
April, 2026: Early Season Frost Wipes Out Initial Bud Growth.
An early frost event towards the end of April freezes off 80% of intial primary shoot development as well as causing residual budsite damage.
May 2026: Vines Recover, Growth is Off to the Races.
Concord make a strong recovery from April's late frost event. Damaged primary shoots are replaced by healthy and vigorous secondary shoots. Latent bud's emerge with newer & stronger primary shoots. The highest-vigor vines show signs of young fruiting bodies. Fruit is left on select vines to control vigor.
June 2026: Vigor Takes Hold.
Summer approaches & the vines are growing at an alarmingly high rate. Selective shoot thinning, positioning as well as sunlight & airflow optimization help guide these beautiful ladies along.
Change in Organic Management
Change in Organic Management
“A few days after applying a light round of hydrogen peroxide, I began to wonder if the organic control inputs I was using were throwing off the balance. The grapevine operates much like we do; she has an immune system and an ability to resist disease and infection. Were these gentle applications tipping the scales of nature unfavorably? I decided to cease all further control inputs that were not directly related to soil health, sunlight, and airflow optimization. To my surprise, even during periods of high humidity, the diseases that can destroy healthy grapevine tissue progressed much more slowly, and the scales of nature appeared to be rebalancing. I was underestimating the power of nature, and more so, underestimating the sheer titan of a grapevine that Vitis labrusca is.”
— Zach, 2026
Stay Tuned, More to Come!
Stay Tuned, More to Come!
We will continue to be adding updates to the story of the Project Genesys vineyard. Please reach out of you have any questions. Thank you!
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