2019 Olive Oil - SOLD OUT

Limited  Edition, 2019 Virgin Olive Oil is available now! 
Limited Edition 2019
 Only 109 bottles available.  Print out an order form and submit it ASAP

karen.jones@middletownusd.org
or text/call
(707)355-0227
This program began in 2014, when Mr. Roderick our principal applied for a specialized grant.  Since that time, students alongside industry leaders have helped and continue to help develop our 2 1/2 acre vineyard and olive grove.
Spring 2017, Students from Middletown High School planted 65, four year old Arbequina Olive Trees. In the fall  of 2017 two five gallon buckets full of beautiful olives were harvested.  2019, we are happy to announce that over 400 pounds of olives were milled at Lake County's own Chacewater Olive Mill, producing our school's first of hopefully many harvests!  109 bottles of Virgin Olive Oil in all. Thank you to students, alumni and community for your support.

Courses offered:            Introduction to Viticulture               Vineyard Management

Goals for the Program

 EASTER IN THE VINEYARD

Thank you to all those that continue to support our project!

Eakle Vineyard Management

A Cut Above Viticulture Services

Albion Surveys, Tyler & Tyson

Scott Brown, Pump specialist

Smith Construction & General Engineering

Guenoc, Langtry Estates, Richie Egger

Jeff Gleaves, Ag Unlimited, Grow West

Lindee Jones, Grow West

James Creek Vineyards, Scott Brown

Sarah Herdell - St. Helena High School, Ag Instructor

Mike & Lisa Browning, Diamond D Ranch

Ground Control, the George family

Jeff Kniffin, Pump specialist

The Hilger family

J & J Forge, Joe Felber

Fletcher Thorton, Backhoe operator

JK Enterprises, Kurt Kriticos

Teresa the Bus Driver

US SCHOOL WINS GRANT TO PLANT VINEYARD

5th March, 2014 by Lauren Eads

High school students are set to get an early education in vinification thanks to a $50,000 grant to plant a four-acre vineyard on their school’s grounds.

From left, Justin Skinner, a junior who serves as the school farm manager for Middletown High School in Middletown, Calif.; Karen Jones, teacher and overseer for the new Middletown High School vineyard program; and Middletown High School Principal Bill Roderick, who wrote a successful proposal that won his school a $50,000 grant from the California Department of Education. The three are seen with grapevines at the school farm.

Justin Skinner, a junior who serves as the school farm manager, Karen Jones, teacher and overseer of the vineyard program and Principal Bill Roderick.

Middletown High School in Californina won the state state grant from the California Department of Education to plant vines to support a new vineyard educational program, according to a report by Lake County News.

The new course will give students the chance to learn about the science and business of growing grapes.

The school was one of 67 schools in the are to receive a portion of US$3.3 million in Specialised Secondary Programs grants, according to the California Department of Education’s award announcement.

The California Department of Education said the grant has a long history of supporting the development of innovative, cutting edge programs that offer students the opportunity to learn real-world skills.

Principal Bill Roderick told the paper: “What the kids will learn is there is a whole batch of math and science before grapes are ever turned into wine.

“We can show kids that there’s an industry coming from our high school that they can 100% go into at any different level and from many different angles – from being a mechanic, a scientist, an accountant and an advertising executive. That’s what’s cool.

The vineyard will be created on a five-are plot where a new elementary school was once considered for.

Roderick added: “I wouldn’t expect anything to go into the ground until fall or spring. We still have planting to do, but the course will start.

“It will actually be a two-course sequence. The first course is viticulture modelled after what they teach at Santa Rosa Junior College.”

Teacher. Karen Jones, will oversee the project which James Creek Vineyards owner, Scott Brown and A Cut Above vineyard manager, Jim Munk have offered their to support to, while the Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery has endorsed it.

Justin Skinner, a junior at Middletown High School and a third-generation dairy farmer, will serve as a student manager of the project.