Being a small farm cannabis cultivator is a journey filled with both joys and challenges. It all begins in the spring, when we carefully plant our seeds and eagerly watch as they sprout and grow into beautiful, bountiful plants over the next seven months. Of course, there are obstacles along the way, from weather and pests to human error, but the satisfaction of seeing our plants thrive outweighs any setbacks.
As autumn approaches, it’s time to harvest our crop and begin the crucial process of drying and curing. This is where the conscious cultivator must be especially vigilant. Improper drying and curing can lead to mold and mildew, which can ruin an entire crop. Additionally, there are supply chain issues to consider as the cannabis moves from the farm to the consumer. It’s a delicate process, but one that is essential for maintaining the quality of the flowers.
At our farm, we take great care in drying and curing our cannabis. We hang the branches upside down in our timber frame barn for at least two weeks, keeping the temperature and humidity at around 60 degrees. If the weather is wet, we use dehumidifiers, and if it’s too cold, we have a wood stove burning to help control the humidity. Once the buds are dry enough, we remove them from the nets and place them on Kraft paper, rolling them up like burritos to continue the curing process.
After a few more days, we place the rolls into non-scented contractor bags and store them in the barn until it’s time to buck them down. Bucking is the process of cutting the buds off the branches and removing any large fan leaves. We leave the smaller sugar leaves to protect the buds until the final trim. Swami and I do this process ourselves, carefully labeling each tub with the Metrc number in a hipster journalistic writing style.
Being a small farm cannabis cultivator is a labor of love, filled with both challenges and rewards. From planting to harvesting to drying and curing, we take great care in every step to ensure the highest quality product for our consumers. It’s a journey that we are proud to be a part of, and we look forward to continuing to grow and improve as cultivators.
