The Binghams

We are just a very ordinary family that has 11 children, homeschools, plays music, loves life, wants to take care of God’s earth, and loves the Lord. We make a lot of mistakes, but we keep turning to God for inspiration, encouragement, and strength.

This picture was taken by a friendly Aussie at the wedding of my niece. I am not sure who took it, but we love it so thank you if you were the one who took the picture! It seems that I am usually the one “taking” the picture and not really “in” the picture.

If you want more technical information here goes:

Cliff Bingham was born in Meadow, Texas, where he resides today and cultivates 2,100 acres of organic row crops. He is a fourth-generation farmer who has grown organic cotton, black-eyed peas, guar, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat. Currently he grows cotton, peanuts, sesame, wheat, and hay grazer. These crops are all grown organically. Cliff also now cares for grapes in his vineyard. Cliff still farms with his father, Eddie Bingham, who has been farming in the same area for the last 60 years.

Betty, Cliff’s wife, was raised in Andrews, Texas. Betty met Cliff at Texas Tech University, where they both earned degrees and then went directly into farming. They both see caring for a farm and vineyard of this magnitude as an intense joint venture requiring not only both of them, but some or most of their 11 children and several full-time and part-time employees.

The Binghams planted their first grapes in 2004 on five acres. They now have a total of 75 acres, producing 175 tons of grapes (some of those acres are first and second leaf; therefore, not in full production). They plan to increase their acreage each year.

The Bingham’s oldest son, Clint Bingham, planted his first five acres of grapes in 2009.

The Bingham’s oldest daughter, Jessica, along with her husband, Tyler Oswald, also work managing the vineyard. Tyler and Jessica have two children, Olivia and Jason, and one more on the way.

The Bingham’s second oldest son, Kyle, helps manage the family vineyards and farms.

Clint, Tyler, and Kyle have all helped some of the other new and existing growers put in more acres of grapes by doing custom work such as putting in drip irrigation systems, planting grape plants, and putting in t-posts for trellises.

Marissa, the Bingham’s fourth oldest child, is working with their experimental test plot of Cabernet Sauvignon grape plants. She plans to continue helping with the vineyards, teaching music, and continuing her own music training. Their other children include Blake, Daniel, Savannah, Emilee, Nathan, Sierra, and Brianna.

Cliff, Betty, and all of their children will be marketing their grapes under the vineyard designation of Bingham Family Vineyards.

Married for 28 years, the Binghams have 11 children. Cliff’s number one hobby is playing the piano, Betty enjoys singing, and their children share their musical talents. All 11 children play an instrument and perform in the Bingham Family Orchestra, sooner or later (the youngest is 6!). They attend Providence Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, Texas.

Grapes and Vineyards

The Binghams currently own or manage 75 acres of grapes. With over 100,000 grafted grape plants currently in the ground and will be planting 55 acres with 75,000 plants in the spring of 2010 for a total of 130 acres.

Grapes include: Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Vermentino, Dolcetto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Roussanne, Trebbiano, Merlot, and Semillon.

Future plantings will include more Trebbiano, Dolcetto, Viognier, Vermentino, Muscato Giallo, Roussanne, Orange Muscat, Merlot, Albarino, Mouvedre, and Tempranillo.

Grapes are or will be provided to: Becker Vineyards, Mandola Estate Winery, Red Caboose, Brennan Vineyards, Texoma Winery, Bar Z Winery, Texas Hills Vineyard, Lone Oak Winery, Pedernales Cellars, Texas Hills Vineyard, San Martino Winery and Vineyard, Caprock Winery, Brushy Creek Vineyards, Landon Winery, Paris Vineyards, Calais Winery, Tara Vineyard and Winery, Perisso Vineyards and Winery, and Woodrose Winery. With more wineries to come.

Climate

The High Plains (at 3,500 feet above sea level) has good soils (shallow sandy clay soils over a limestone base-caliche) and good climate. The red soil drains quickly, which grapes like, and because the caliche keeps the roots shallow, the grower can control, through irrigation, how much water they get. Thirsty plants and low-vigor soil combine to produce abundant grapes and a skimpy leaf canopy that lets in the sun so the grapes ripen.

Low rainfall and low humidity help limit vine disease problems, and cool nights improve the fruit’s quality.

The biggest dangers to vineyards in West Texas are hail and winter damage.

Equipment

The Binghams have been growing crops organically for 16 years. Most equipment is similar to conventional farming with the exception of a few plows that allow them to cultivate the weeds a little more aggressively. Some of the equipment consists of several larger horsepower GPS tractors; cotton harvesting equipment, including cotton strippers, module builders, and boll buggies; peanut harvesting equipment; planters; and heavy tillage plows.

Because the vineyards are on eight-foot spacing, the Binghams have a smaller set of tractors and equipment to cultivate and maintain the vineyards. They have also utilized GPS-driven tractors to perfect the accuracy of their rows. In addition, they have developed special toolbars and plows to automate the installation of the trellis system. In 2008 they also purchased a state-of-the-art mechanical harvester, Braud VX680, to harvest timely for the wineries. In addition they have purchased an Oxbo mechanical pruner to allow delayed pruning to delay and minimize hand pruning.

Special Growing Conditions

Bingham plants on eight-foot rows in order to get more plants per acre. It helps to create a better microclimate – interplant competition helps promote lower vigor and helps keep the plants from getting too growthy.

Awards & Recognition

Past president (for 11 years) of Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative, currently still on the board.

Past president of the Terry County Soil and Water Conservation District and served on the board for eight years.

Served as a board member of Organic Exchange, an international organization whose purpose is the promotion of organic cotton.

Current president of Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association (TWGGA.)