Growing Knowledge: Ask a Grower

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Are you curious about where your weed comes from? Who is growing this cannabis? What is their experience cultivating my medicine from seed? It has always intrigued me, but it never occurred to me to talk to my master grower father until I got into the cannabis industry. My dad, Duane Cattanach, owns Eagle Green Farm, a Southern Oregon craft cannabis grow. I had way too many questions to include in this post, but here are some of the questions I asked my dad! 


What is growing cannabis like?


A lot of work! A serious challenge, constant changes.

Why is it hard to grow weed?


Nature controls the rules and keeping up with the state’s regulations is hard. You can’t control nature and regulations are constantly changing. 

Soil vs. Hydroponics— what do you think is better?


Soil! It’s natural! I don’t use any chemicals to make it do what it does naturally, but I have never grown in hydroponics, I am a sun and soil kind of guy. I try and keep it as simple as I can.

What are the greatest challenges of an outdoor grow?


The weather constantly changing. Hot, rainy, plants get cold in the ground and sometimes their growth is stunted. Sometimes you have to start over if they are stunted too bad. Temperature is a big challenge, but it’s a double edged sword because it is a great climate for weed, yet you cannot control it.

How do you avoid pests/mold outdoors?


We use all natural products. Right now we are using an oil that combines cinnamon, thyme, and a couple other natural oils.

 

I thought that you could use some chemicals on weed and it won’t affect when you smoke it? 

 
You never know with those chemicals. They say some are safe, but then when further research is done they pull those products and come out with another chemical blend. There’s no sense in using chemicals when it could be ingested into somebody’s system if we can produce it using natural products. 
 

What’s your advice to consumer’s buying weed?


Use it in proper proportions, abuse with any substance is not good. Too much of anything is not good. I think the concentrates are way too over the top.

 

Thank you to Eagle Green Farm and my father for letting me take my Unicorn friend Blessings for a photo shoot and showing me your amazing plants! CANNOT WAIT FOR CROPTOBER! 

Reclaiming the “Stoner” Image

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As I get older and grow further as a cannabis professional I find myself cringing at words like “pothead” or “burnout” because it paints this picture of lazy good for nothings smoking copious amounts of bong bowls on their couch. Being a “stoner” is about more than just being a cannabis consumer it’s about integrating cannabis into your routine as a way of bettering your overall quality of life.

 

 In over 4 years of interacting with patients and consumers I find a majority of toking enthusiasts would describe themselves as a “functional stoner” because simply put cannabis allows them to function better.  That could mean cannabis facilitates the anxiety relief they need to get through a challenging presentation.  It could mean treating their chronic headaches that used to keep them bedridden they’re now able to go about the tasks they need to accomplish. Not only do I find most herb lovers use cannabis to alleviate symptoms but also to fuel their ambitious goals in life.  I’ve met teachers, doctors, lawyers, former police officers, social workers, CEOs, professional athletes – the list could go on endlessly because my point is the “functional stoners” are all around us.

 

The “stoner” usually has a full-time job, engages with their family, and strives to educate on cannabis rather than to proselytize. Sure, on the other end of the spectrum you might have an overindulgent consumer that isn’t productive aka the “pothead”. It’s a critical time be a “stoner” and not a “pothead” because this will be the image of cannabis future generations will be exposed to.