Relaxed's 2014 Outdoor Medical Grow

Relaxed Lester;2331180 said:

B A R;2330599 said:

Your Thurs Updates are never a disappointment Lester. All joking aside I really do look forward to them. They've become one of my favorite highlights here on 420 & like clockwork, every Thurs. Even if you're not with your girls you give us some retro throwback pics from Lester's Playboy Mansion. Thanxx for the consistency and Congrats on your harvest.


McD's

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Thank you so much, brother! So glad to hear it

beemerbill;2330775 said:

Hot diggity dog Lester now that is happy thurweed day. Always looking really good. Gorgeous girls, beautiful buds and a harvest. Happy Days my friend

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Mahalo brother, now that I think of it. 2014 could not have gone much better (but I can hope, can't I? ). It was absolutely incredible the way things worked out with the timing of my plants and their outcomes. Though that was not completely random, I did not think I would be able to come close to 2013's bounty, but I did!

JadeLotus;2330797 said:

Nice job RL! How do you make your concentrate? I've made some mediocre batches. Any tips would be appreciated!

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Aloha JadeLotus! I make my concentrate using 99% isopropyl alcohol using the Quick - Wash - Isopropyl alcohol - Extraction method.
This is analogous to making concentrated cannabis oil using grain alcohol (which some people prefer because it's considered "food grade") How to Make Concentrated Cannabis Oil, however, in both cases you are going to get some solvent residues left behind (very very low PPM amounts which are easily tolerable to the human body), it's when it actually smells/tastes like solvent (via olfactory system) that it would be a problem...

QWISO is a much different, polar opposite technique that uses cold fluids to extract the terpenes/cannabinoids. Here's a general summary of the steps that are included, but playing around with different techniques to the process can yield you different textured products;

1) I get the alcohol very cold (as cold as it can get in a conventional freezer - it won't freeze), optionally you can freeze your trim/nugs too, but I've found that only lowers the percent recovery. So I've been using ice cold alcohol and room temperature botanicals.

2) I usually mix about 10 grams of buds/popcorns and about 475 mL of ice cold alcohol into a mason jar.

3) Depending on how long you let the herbs be in contact with the extracting solvent, it will drag out more compounds from within, most notably - the dreaded chlorophyll - which lowers the purity of your end result, however is not a problem for some people. Let me clarify, if you use warm herb and warm alcohol and soak it for a long time, or over the course of ~20 minutes, lots of chlorophyll will get extracted , among other things, which will increase recovery but not purity.

4) Generally, I shake the jar vigorously to extract most of the resin into the solvent, the solution should never be green - but only golden. I've experimented with different techniques, and wash times. The more you shake the jar, the more heat you create, and over time, more chlorophyll you drag out inherently, so you want to be quick about it. Basically you can shake the mixture for 30-60 seconds and strain to remove all solids.

5) Next step will leave you with a golden filtrate which should be evaporated off (outdoors for safety! - this step can be considered dangerous if not following proper protocol) to yield a clear amber oil, which is the ideal end result in this case.

That's pretty much it, you can check out a previous post I've made about it HERE.

One last note about the QWISO is that, generally it is said that cured and fully dried herbs will extract better, but I don't find that necessarily true. The oils I extracted from fresh herbs were the best I ever made, so I will keep doing it like that from now on.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

colorfuldayze;2330803 said:

Heya Lester I have been waiting all day through work to catch up and soak in your update today. I concur and echo what BAR worded so well, and for my part, I will not view your new updates the first time during the day on my phone because I want all the time I desire/need to soak it all up properly. I have been sitting here for the past 30 minutes scrolling slowly up, stopping, scrolling slowly up, stopping, gazing in awe, and then repeating that process.

Congratulations on your fine and well earned harvest Relaxed. Well done sir! Looking at those buds, I can just see all of the outside goodness, aromas, spices, and essences just soaked into them. That is a fine garden you are managing sir. Thank you for sharing w/ us beachcombers. Best to you!

and Aloha!

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So glad to read your wonderful comment! Thank you for that, you really have a way with words, my friend! And you and all the other fellow beachcombers are definitely welcome! Be Well

SoilGirl;2330808 said:

Hahahah wow so eloquent colorful, how am I supposed to follow that??

Congrats Lester! that looks like a very nice harvest! And as always, the other plants are all looking awesome. Sounds like you had a great day! Can't wait to see the next flowers, you always seem to have something beautiful to keep our attention.

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Much Mahalo Sister! Yesterday went by quick, but the herbs are drying and the little seedlings are growing, the plants are flowering, and vegetating. There is not much more I could ask for. I am very stoked for this next line up.

Mr Teddy;2330886 said:

Oh Lester, Lester...
It's early morning here. I'm only on my first coffee. Vocabulary synapses haven't kicked in yet. So.....

and

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It's morning here now! Good Day to You. Thanks for clicking through, glad you enjoyed the update. Now I must get to my as well

danishoes21;2331175 said:

Great Update Lester, so much is happening in that garden, harvest, extracts, clones, flowering... Blueberry is beautiful

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Much Mahalo brother! Wonderful comment

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