Pubdate: Thu, 24 Sep 2015
Source: Portland Mercury (OR)
Column: Cannabuzz: The Week in Cannabis
Copyright: 2015 The Portland Mercury
Contact:  http://www.portlandmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1174
Author: Josh Jardine

GROWING VEGANICALLY

NOW THAT YOU can grow four cannabis plants at home, what kind will 
you grow? Yes, yes, the sticky-kind kind, otherwise why bother? But 
using what method?

There are many ways to grow cannabis. You can grow in soil or 
hydroponically. Some brave souls even grow aeroponically, a method in 
which the roots are bare and exposed, and get sprayed with a nutrient solution.

Same as with produce, there are "conventional" growing methods 
(meaning chemicals are used) and organic choices. Yet another option 
is biodynamic growing, a method designed by Rudolf Steiner that 
involves mystical and spiritual approaches that can include burying 
quartz in a cow's horn with your crop. I graduated from a Waldorf 
school so I'm contractually forbidden from mocking this method, but 
you should feel free.

When I first heard about a new technique-veganics, AKA vegan organic 
gardening-I rolled my eyes. Really?

But I'll admit I was intrigued when I learned Kyle Kushman had racked 
up 13 Medical Cannabis Cup Awards with his veganic entries, including 
several for flower. Kushman is a long-time world-class cultivator who 
gained prominence in the pages of High Times, writing for the 
publication for more than two decades.

As Kushman writes on his website, "Veganic simply means no 
animal-derived products are used. Veganic nutrients rely on 
proprietary formulations of fermented plant solubles for the majority 
of their nutritive power."

Fair enough. When you consider that fertilizer is animal waste and 
that bone and blood meal may not yield great tastes, perhaps veganics 
are worth exploring.

I sought out a local veganic farm. I had heard 7 Points Oregon's name 
at several dispensaries, and asked if they would share their story.

They told me they didn't start out growing veganically. "Before we 
started 7 Points, we grew with synthetic nutrients, and had great 
results and yields," says Robert Elam, one of the farm's partners. 
"However, when we reflected on food and how we wanted to live our 
lives, we couldn't use chemically derived nutrition any longer. 
Because everything you put into a cannabis plant is destined for 
human consumption and medical use, purity became a top priority.

"During the first days of 7 Points, we did a controlled grow of both 
synthetic nutrients and veganics, which is essentially our signature 
formula built off of fermented vegetables," Elam continues. "We found 
that while the chemical crops yielded higher, the quality of the 
veganics was infinitely better."

I've tried 7 Points' cannabis, and have to agree. I cracked a jar and 
the scent was strong and clean. I picked up notes that were missing 
from the same strain grown conventionally. I haven't seen any data 
claiming higher THC numbers, but if it's flavor and scent you're 
after, you should consider growing veganic.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom