TRAER - Step into Art and Nancy Calderwood's backyard and you'll get a small taste of country paradise.

The 40-acre farm is engulfed in peaceful quiet as the sun sets and shadows are cast across a newly planted two-and-a-half-acre vineyard.

"It looks like we're growing sticks," joked Nancy about the tall bamboo shoots used to support the 3-inch baby vines.

The Calderwoods are among a growing number of Iowans who are trading in their fields of grain for acres of grapes.

"We both were raised in farm families, so we wanted to be on a farm again and work the land," Art said. "This is just our alternative to corn and beans."

Summerset Winery in Indianola has helped numerous farmers in the area who wanted to get out of raising pigs and in to cultivating succulent grapes.

"We began a seminar in 2000 for grape growers," said Summerset owner Ron Mark. "Since then there has been a rise in the number of people who've attended our seminars and began vineyards of their own."

Iowa State University has been experimenting with more than 30 grape varieties in recent years. The university has many useful tips and information online for first-time growers.

While some think farming grapes is an easier alternative to raising run-of-the-mill crops, those who've done it say otherwise. Years of research go into vineyard work before grapes are planted.

"Before planting a vineyard, the area to be used needs to be tilled a year in advance and soil samples need to be taken," said Yvonne Barnes, co-owner of Winneshiek Wildberry Winery in Decorah.

Growing grapes requires so much advance work, because the fruit is more sensitive than corn and soybeans.

"Our day begins at 4:40 a.m. We go to our full-time jobs and then we come home and work outdoors until we drop," Art said. "It's very labor-intensive."

Different crops require different care, and cold Iowa winters and early frosts must be considered when choosing which types of grapes to grow.

"Frontenac is the grape we use for our red wines and La Crosse we use for our white," Nancy said. "Both are resilient to the cold temperatures we experience."

Concord grapes also are widely used, along with many French hybrids.

Like any crop, pest control is a concern. Nets are thrown over the grapes to ward off predators from above, and dogs can be used to scare off large critters on the ground.

"We recently purchased two 6-week-old yellow Labs to chase off the deer, rabbits and other wildlife," Nancy said. "Their names are Cabie and Vinnie, short for Cabernet and Vineyard."

Sizes of vineyards and wineries depend on the visions of the owners. Some vineyards will turn into large wineries, like Summerset, producing around 40,000 bottles from 12.5 acres. Others, like the Calderwoods, will sell their grapes to the large wine businesses.

"Our love for wine is what started this whole escapade," Art said. "We don't want a winery here. We want to sell our grapes to the big guys and enjoy making our own wine from our personal vineyard.

"We can't wait to be sitting on our back porch watching the wildlife around our vineyard as the sun sets, sipping the wine it took us years to create. It's truly a labor of love."

Contact Lindsey Ory at (319) 291-1480 or at lindsey.ory@wcfcourier.com.