September 4, 2005 Max and Wink got married.

Max & Wink

Max and Wink have bought the farm! Last fall 2004 we took a road trip to the Sesquicentennial celebration in Max's hometown — Valley Falls, Kansas — to visit her family and their farm. Seeds of thought were planted. Later, for her birthday, we took a road trip in the other direction to Paonia, Colorado, at the height of the autumn aspen foliage and Harvest Festival. The valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, where the villages of Paonia and Hotchkiss are located, is a lush fruit-growing area. We toured local wineries and learned that folks successfully produce good wines at these altitudes. We also discovered that the North Fork has the greatest concentration of organic farms in the state. The seeds began to germinate. We met the only organic vintner in Colorado and conceived our dream: to find an organic farm in the North Fork and join the growing community of Colorado viticulturists.

In November it was confirmed that Attila and his Huns have taken control of our nation's capital and, as our friend said, "it's time to head for the hills." He later amended that he didn't mean it so literally. But the momentum was already in motion. Fertilized by this sense of urgency and nourished by our affirmations, the dream budded and produced fruit with extraordinary speed. We found, and purchased, a 36-acre organic orchard with about 15 acres in peaches and apples and a young, neglected, one-acre vineyard. - W