First things first. Several weeks ago, our child, Brenden, informed us they are gender neutral, and would prefer being called Bee, but is also ok with us calling them boo, because that’s what we’ve always called our second born (by 10 minutes) child. I had not...
Our grow supervisor this year is a kit. This fine fellow sat and watched us while we pruned. We should have cropped the bucket out. August 1 As we roll along into the back end of this grow, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my appreciation for others who help...
This morning was the first 4.5 gallon spray. That’s full capacity for my foliar sprayer. From here until we start cutting down plants, every foliar spray will be a full tank plus however much more I’ll need to finish. Last year,...
May 27 July 27 Two months ago today, I put plants in the beds. When you’re out there every day, you definitely notice the growth. There are little benchmarks you follow. How quickly do the tops grow from one rung on the cage to the next? How much do they grow in 24...
July 21 With one plant having begun the flowering process, it is now glove wearing season in the beds. I did my initial pruning of Shiatsu Kush. Many more to come. She has already become sticky. From here on, I want as few fingers as possible to touch these plants,...
July 18 We understand that as our plants mature, and especially through the flowering period, we will have more bees inspecting the cannabis. We expect that some of them, both honeybee and bumblebee, will take long afternoon naps on fan leaves. This will become...
July 14 It’s official. We have a kit living on the property. Not sure how old, but it’s a youngster. Fox eventually become nocturnal hunters, but when they are kits, they are looking for food, and generally checking everything out during the day. We must be vigilant...
Let’s take a tour of the beds and review the progress of each plant to date. We’re about two to three weeks from when an increase in afternoon shade will begin pushing some of the plants toward flowering. But right now, they are in a peak period of vegetative growth....
We have the return of borage all over the beds and aviary. This one is a youngster in the spice rack next to the lavender.This is why we’re seeing more beneficial insects. Here is an insect with an interesting story: The Green Sweat Bee, investigating a calendula...
July 4 This is blog #40 for the 2020 Isolation Grow, falling on July 4 in America, Independence Day. Magic Jordan seeds are in the house! Thank you, Canadien Hemp Company! No fireworks this year. To make up for a lack of family, company or pyrotechnics, I’m going to...
Let’s start today’s blog with a little breakfast. Fresh huckleberry pancake cooked on cast iron in coals from the previous night’s fire. Anyone want to go camping? June 30 Eight of thirteen plants now have the second part of the tomato cage attached. Last year, for...
June 26 Look at the damage to the top of RK 16. One insect could not do all this. I consciously looked at that top two days ago and did not see this level of damage. It looked like this plant had been visited by a small cluster of western cucumber beetles. Where had...
June 23 We received some stunning and hopeful news last evening. One of our very best friends, who is also immunocompromised, someone I grow for, had Covid-19 and has recovered. We knew she was sick back in March, and we kept telling her to get tested. Of course, she...
June 20 It’s officially summer when I break out the two tablespoon spoon. It’s what I use for foliar sprays and I could not find it. It was buried in a box of stuff about to be tossed. It takes two tablespoons of Regalia per gallon, and this morning, every plant in...
Prior to cannabis, prior to illness, and way, way before Covid-19, we used to have a Summer Solstice party. I’m sure some of you did, too. Remember going to a party? With lots of friends? Solstice evokes memories, and awakens ghosts for me. There are many great...
June 12 All gardening plans are subject to change. In the last blog, I wrote that I was about to do the first Regalia foliar spray, and that we’d do a BT spray before the end of June. After plant inspection with Brenden, before he began training plants, we determined...
June 10 I don’t know anyone who is having an easy time right now. I’m not certain I’d trust someone if they said they were not struggling. We have been feeling increased stress. I’m certain stress played a major part in my recent weekend malady. Stress is...
Sorry, folks. I became unexpectedly ill over the weekend. (not Covid-19) Plants are fine and growing. Back soon I hope.
June 2 All the plants are now in beds. The next couple of days are going to be very warm, prime growing days, followed by several days of wind. I want the new plants to have a couple of days before the wind hits them. Also, for the first time since April 15,...
May 28 A second Ringo’s Gift will go in a bed this morning. It appears we have a second female, and I’m still shocked that we have one. Blessings abound this foggy morning. Further, it appears a small band of rain will pass by Friday night and Saturday. Maybe a...
Told you I was looking forward to my first sunrise for this blog, and here we go. Btw, planting day also marks my full time return to proper farming attire: Overalls. It’s time to work. Five years ago, I was looking for hope. I was online all the time, reading...
First, a belated Happy Anniversary to us. Number 38 for Karen and me, celebrated yesterday. I present as evidence this sequence of photos. A week after we were legally married at San Francisco City Hall, we had our own, very small ceremony. We were about to sample...
Today, May 15, is the first day our second row of beds remain in sunlight after 5:00 pm. That means the sun is finally beginning to inch toward the north side of the tree line atop our southern hill. We’ve had enough sun to grow vegetables, but not quite for cannabis....
Because I grow these plants, I get asked about them from folks in pain. People are curious. They want to know about the alleged pain killing, spasm stopping properties of cannabinoids. My experience with them is limited to four years of growing, annual testing, and...
In the first blog of this series, I stated that I now grow exclusively from seeds. That was not how I started. My first year was entirely clones. My second year was half clone and half seeds. I am grateful to clones for helping me get started, and if there was a...
This morning, as my plants begin to show their sex, I’d like to offer a few words for the soon to be departed males. Over the years, they have attained a justifiable bad rap. They are less than stellar cannabis, and good for only one thing. However, I would be...
For all of you out there right now, starting gardens for the first time, or considering starting a garden, allow me this observation: True gardeners are in this for the long game. It’s not about what we’re growing now, it’s more about how and what we’ll be growing in...
One day last summer, June 10, 2019, we had the hottest day we’ve had in our 22 years at this home. It reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit. During this heat, as you can see in the photo, local quail flew into the garden and took comfort beneath the canopy of our cannabis...
Today, the youngsters in the cottage are halfway to planting day, provided enough females survive. To help make certain I fill our beds, I’ve started five feminized seeds. So of the 32 plants in 3-gallon pots, all I need are seven females. Other than wanting a variety...
It would be fair to describe where we live as being on the border of a wilderness. We are surrounded by near pristine land. That such land still exists in California is a testament to the grit and stones of the people who fought to keep it wild. A sincere tip of the...