For Labor Day, The Grape Nut, Betsey Nash, spoke with people involved with vineyard work on the Central Coast. Learn about wages, visas, living conditions and more.
The Grape Nut: Looking at vineyard labor on the Central Coast
Betsey Nash
Betsey moved from Burbank to the central coast to attend Poly in January of '69, only to be greeted by a horse tied to a tree in front of the English building. "Oh no, what have I done!": Her culture shock didn't end there: there were vacant lots between the houses! People drove on the beach! And, oh look at those gorgeous green hills! A tradition that she and her roommates embraced was started when their Morro Bay neighbors brought a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies and a jug of Pesenti Zinfandel Rose over to help them get through mid-terms and finals weeks. The place became home.