A huge thank you to whomever nominated me yet again for this prestigious award!
Many years ago I began in this hobby as a young woman determined to produce product for myself and my immediate family, and medicine for my Aunt who was suffering from a terrible case of MS. My first attempts to grow this weed were terrible and I knew I needed help, so I got brave and joined several online forums.
Although many newbies with dumb questions got ignored by the experienced guys, I managed to get the attention of some very talented growers, and I actually got them to talk to me, this dumb newbie with the dumb questions and the hard headed ideas as to how I thought this was supposed to all work. Female growers were even rarer back then and I was out to prove that I could do this thing, in a mostly male dominated hobby. Thanks to those guys [and a few gals] who took me under their wings early on, this stubborn girl learned how to properly water a weed, how to make natural fertilizers and supplements, and how to grow this weed using various soil and hydro methods. I also learned that I had a voice, and a knack for explaining things.
Only because some very talented old school growers took the time and had the patience to have long conversations with me about every aspect of this growing thing, I managed to start getting some decent harvests. Through the knowledge I gained I was able to get my Aunt on an RSO program that eventually got her off of the terrible drugs they had her on day and night, and we managed over time to put her MS totally into remission. My family and I are eternally grateful for the life that has been given back to Aunt Suzie, and due to that experience I made it my
mission to give back to this community.
You will find me looking for newbies and will most often see me join threads that are brand new and are clearly cries for help with a damaged garden. Every week I answer scores of these messages, oftentimes spending hours with a new member to find out exactly what they are doing wrong and the misconceptions they have as to growing this weed. More often than not, I will write a dissertation on this new member's post, giving detailed explanations so that they can understand through my words and logic, why a certain thing needs to be done. After answering the same questions about watering over and over and over again, mainly out of frustration, I wrote what is now my signature piece, How to Properly Water a Potted Plant, and I am overjoyed to see that this one work has saved countless gardens from disaster all over the world in the years it has now been in existence.
I am on a
mission to give back what was given to my family and myself by the cannabis community. I spend hours online everyday in this quest, sometimes patiently explaining and sometimes scolding, but always attempting to pay it forward.
Thank you again for the nomination and please know that it is appreciated more than you could possibly know. In the past, being in a formerly illegal state, I discouraged people from voting for me in this contest because I didn't want the fame or even the notice for what I was doing. Today, these fears no longer exist for me and I have been thinking how nice that butter machine would look in my kitchen.
Thank you for considering me as member of the month this month. I have just recently returned to activity here, having taken a year or so off to take the heat off of my grow operations and allow me to take a much more public role in helping get the vote out here in Missouri to pass our MMJ amendment. That work was a huge success and Missouri is now legal for MMJ, and I am finally free to make all the noise that I want to online without fear. As many of you have seen, I hit the ground running when I came back, and I already can see several gardens that I have helped since returning. I am making a difference, and I am proud to be able to say that I am helping others, especially those with medical needs. Those who have put my watering method in their signatures, thank you... you are also helping save gardens. Those who have made my DIY calmagphos or my dandelion nutrients, you get it, and thank you for your support and thank you so much for all that you have done for me. I consider you all much more than a cannabis community, you are family.
Be well everyone, and good luck to all the contestants in this month's competition.
---Emmie