Amy Gardner's First Journal - Outdoor - Critical Cure & Chaos In The Forest

[Bonsaiweed]

Very well written conclusion.......

 

[InTheShed]

Omg you live in the wild!

An excellent end to a wonderful journal. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[dynamo1]

Thanks Amy it was a wonderful grow, I enjoyed it immensely.

 

[Amy Gardner]

Cheers all, I’m just popping back in with the final dry weights. That was a ridiculous oversight of the wrap up post - I mean really Amy, what folks want to know is how much!? I hadn’t taken final weights of money bush or professor chaos so I just spent a lovely half hour in my room with all the jars open getting that done!

Professor Chaos: 3.5oz
CBD CC: 6.5oz
Money Bush: 4oz
Ice: 9gr
Golden Tiger x NL (#1): 19gr
Golden Tiger x NL (#2): 1.75 oz

So my estimate of close to a pound was pretty good. I’m kind of happy with that haul

There’s no way I could afford to do medicinally what this will enable me to do if I was needing to buy. Being able to make the topical oil for pain (not to mention the already noticeable effects on my complexion... my! ), and to have a many months supply of CBD for making dosing oil (I have a few friends interested as well). If I had to rely on purchasing all that, my medicinal possibilities would be way way limited. This absolutely the way that all the citizens of all nation states need to be enabled to manage their own cannabis for medicine - or be connected directly to a personal grower to do this for them. I can’t express how relaxed I am right now. Maybe really financially wealthy people feel this relaxed all the time, maybe it’s just abundance ...

...

 

[Smeegol]

round of applause ms.Amy four an amazing journal

 

[Cultivator Disciple]

Welcome all to Amy Gardner’s first grow journal

First I'll get some particulars on the table - much is still in flux (no pun intended), but the known quantities so far are:

Strain(s);
1 x CBD Critical Cure (Feminised - Barney's Farm), Indica dominant (80%/20%) | THC 5.5%/CBD 8% | this is largely for meds, a supply of oil for treatment of pain & PTSD | this one is going in the garden enclosure.

1 x Professor Chaos (Regular - TGA Subcool), Sativa Dominant (65%/35%) | Relatively short flowering (50-60days) | I bought this before learning more about strains and about landrace. In the future I'll more likely go for a Panama. But I'm hoping to plant this one out in the forest, it's going to be fun to see how the Chaos goes out there in the wild.:icon_cool

1 x Money Bush (Feminised - Heavyweight, freebie from Herbies), Indica dominant 80%/20% | THC 21%/CBD3% | this is going in an experimental location, to see if it's a viable spot. The strain doesn't particularly excite me, but it was free which is great and it will do a great job for me testing this spot.
Veg or Flower? Nothing in veg or flower yet - i'm preparing to get soil ready (and waiting for protected enclosure to be built - finished any day (or week) now!)
Environment: All outdoor
Medium: Soil - this is being worked out now. Some kind of 1 : 1 : 1 plus amendments arrangement. The rest of this opening post will begin a discussion and ask for advice about my soil. See below!
Container: 1 or 2 in pots - hopefully a 30L and 1 straight in the ground (in a slightly amended spot)
Light: The Sun
Air-cooled?: The nor-easterly breeze
Temp & RH - Our summer’s can get pretty hot and late summer can be humid. Can’t control it, will just monitor and try to build strong plants!
Any Pests?: Hopefully not! and let’s hope the plants are strong enough. I’ve grown in the area before and not had any.
How often are you watering? As little as possible at first and then as much as they seem to want.
Type and strength of ferts used? All natural - what’s available. Seaweed, some compost teas, worm castings topdress if needed.

I really don’t know what to expect and that’s the most exciting part. It’s the first time I’ve tried more than one plant at a time and a more serious (but in a kind of frivolous sense, not serious, just more serious) approach to growing than I’ve taken before. It’s my place here so I am experimenting with different sites around the garden (but anything outside the enclosure needs it’s own wallaby/possum proof fence, so there’s that to consider).

I had originally planned to drop the seeds with the new moon at the end of this week (I do things by the moon as much as possible) but the enclosure is delayed and now I am taking a trip away for a week that can’t be helped - so I plan to drop seeds about the 27th which is a bit late in the cycle but still waxing, so should be ok.

This is my 4th grow. Each previous time has been a grow of only one plant, 3 different locations over the last 6 years. The first one I grew when I wasn’t smoking much and it lasted years! I have no idea how much it was in weight. The second I grew was this one (different user name - it was me!) and she was a beautiful plant but she lost the sun too soon in the season (behind some tall trees) and being a sativa this didn’t go well - plus, in the last 5 weeks of flowering we had about the wettest autumn on record and it rained and rained … i was so dedicated - out there every morning shaking her down and cutting off the rot! I had the craziest rig of clear (milky) plastic and supports trying to jeep the rain off her. Anyway - she got pulled too early but I still had smoke from her for a long time and it was a nice smoke, good for me and the occasional friend, and occasional bonus for the folks who come to work here.

Currently I’m growing an indoor for the first time - mostly because I was getting impatient for summer and the garden enclosure we’re having built is, of course, way behind schedule.

SO - onwards!

I’m trying to do what I can with what’s here and whatever amendments are deemed essential.

I need to talk soil with you good folk!

I’ve been reading a lot - and some of it has sunk in and been understood, some of it has sunk in and confused me and some of it I’ve very likely missed. I haven’t read all of the earlier journals of DocBud and Conradino23 that i’d like to yet so I’m missing some stuff there I think, but i’m still reading. I’ve read a bit about CEC and the base cations etc. and still digesting this crash course is soil mineral science! So to be clear from the outset - I’m not equipped, or inclined actually, to do a no-till situation. I also will not be going down the full LOS pathway that involves lots of grain hulls, teas, cover crops etc, although many of the principles and ideas are certainly in play (and I might try some chamomile and or clover in the pot - maybe. Maybe not.). My main take away messages from the reading I have done have been more to do with mineralising the soil. I’m a big fan of the DBHBB kit (and a big fan of what it grows in good conditions!) but it’s just not in my financial ballpark (especially when I’m still cutting my teeth = higher risk) so let’s see what I can do here on my own, eh? I know I need Myco, and minerals and compost. I’m heeding the warnings of hi-brix growers like DocBud and Conradino23 to not have too much organic matter - which can overwhelm the bio-community (at least that’s my understanding of it) and slow the whole web down (the same thing happens to us if we eat too much and don't get enough minerals )

OK - what I have is:

A load of compost is coming for the veggie patch from a local garden supplier - it’s good so I’ll be using some of that mixed with some of our own compost (we’re only 2 and we fast a lot so there’s not a lot of food waste to compost!). I’ll contact the supplier and see if they can tell me a bit about their compost. I’ll include worm castings if i can source them easily. (Easily means - very locally, and cheap)

The PEAT or COIR question.
I had been thinking I’d get Peat moss. The same business that sells the Myco sells peat and there’s another options too - but all require shipping. But, we’re going to be using CocoCoir to make seed raising mix and potting mix for the veggies etc. and I’m thinking it’ll be easier and cheaper for me to go with this. The coco we’re getting is good - for organic gardening, not full of salt etc. We’re being careful about this.

So my question here then is can I do a good 11 mix using coco, compost and aeration? And still have a good soil community? And regarding aeration, is perlite the only option - and is it as much of an issue outside (one or 2 will still be in a pot, 1 in the ground)? I.e - will I need 1/3 perlite outdoor? It’s not something I remember Conradino using - but i’ve more to read.

We have this really good looking clay here and the holes dug for the enclosure have unearthed heaps of it! I’m spending this morning researching what it is exactly. This is the hole it comes out off followed by pics of what it looks like up close.

Nice huh? I’m certain it must be full of good minerals (hopefully incl. cations) so I’ll be on the phone trying to find out the composition (found nothing so far on local gov website). Some of it is greyer and some of it is more mustard kind of colours. (pics will get greener as we go along I'm expecting - in the meantime, I love the colours in this clay!)

And I’m looking at the following amendments:

Myco - I can get this from a business here (an 'organic garden solutions' supplier). They call it AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and it seems the goods. From what I can tell (they sell Coots style compost etc.) they’re geared towards canna growing without actually mentioning that, as they have all the usual suspects for folks doing notill and LOS. This will be used as an amendment to the soil mix and also for sprinkling during transplants. (and into the veggie soil too if I can convince the other gardner.)

Either Basalt or Volcanic rock dust (the place that has the Myco also sells the volcanic rock dust, but I think basalt is better from what I’ve read, so if I can find it… (maybe my clay already has it?!). The ogs supplier I mentioned includes Basalt and Gypsum in their 'complete nutrient' mix, but they don't sell it seperately.

Crushed eggshells go into our compost all the time (not exactly powdered tho) but I’m thinking I will make a dedicated cup full for my ‘special’ soil mix, by using the heavy duty mortar & pestle and trying to powder it. I recently did this to feed the soil in my indoor grow and it was a bit taxing, so I'll see how I go with that particular DIY.

Crab/crustacean meal: I haven’t looked into sourcing this yet. My question here is - s there a way to get chitins into my soil community without crustacean meal?

Oyster shell flour (mixed with the eggshells as I'm not sure I can eat and crush enough of them in the time!). I’ve heard outer farmers use black tar to attach the shells to the host post or base… hoping I can get flour that’s guaranteed not to have tar in it! The organic place that sells the Myco has this as well, but my budget there is getting tight.

For looking after things during the grow I have a plentiful supply of seaweed, kangaroo poo (for making a compost tea) and an LAB starter that I’ll be learning how to make use of (thanks MerryAnna ). There'll be worm castings for topdressing, some mulch (lucerne) if needed. Anything more will be worked out as I go along.

At the moment I’d love some help on where I’m at with the current thinking. Please if there’s any small detail in there that seems a bit off, or misguided, I’m relying on folk to point it out. I’m a details person - details, I love em. There’s nothing to learn if one’s ego gets in the way so feel free to, recommend, point out any errors, or impending issue you may spot, in general - edutain me! I hope the grow entertains you! I'm excited and I haven't even dropped the seeds yet!

This ia the kind of stuff that makes rhe adventure so thrill !!!

 

[Amy Gardner]

How are you going to power the computer fan?

I’m going to rewire it to a switchable power supply and, hopefully, use the voltage switching to control the fanspeed a bit. ANd if that little electronics experiment doesn’t work, then I’ll buy one with a power pack already attached

 

[Neiko]

Nice wrap up Amy. I sure do love your updates and the critters of course! I'll be watching for your new journal.

 

[SweetSue]

This easily qualifies as the most delightful wrap-up I've read in my three years here. You're gonna make me improve my journalling skills girl. Lol! Well done Amy.

Good God, if I could do a couple CBDCCs outside...... with yields like that I could catch my breath. Be careful with sharing. It always looks like more than it is, and it takes months and months to grow another. I've cut us frighteningly short being generous a couple times before I sat myself down and made it a rule that I grow the CBDCC for my daughter and no one else.

It really is that powerful as medicine Amy. We talked the other day and she told me if she could only have one plant growing it would be this life-changing product of the collaboration between Barney's Farm and CBD Crew. I never cease to be amazed at what it does for her.

You have us spoiled now, you realize that? With great power comes great responsibility. Lol! We'll be waiting patiently for the excitement of your next journal. Good thing we have that lounge, eh?

I have to run or I'll be late for lunch, but you make it difficult to leave this warm and loving space.

Thank you for a delicious ride.

Yes, that's what abundance feels like. Hold onto it and watch what the universe brings to extend the vibration. Then share the story in the lounge. I am so glad I stopped before running out the door.

 

[Amy Gardner]

Sage advice there @SweetSue - thanks. I will be careful with gifting. After this first round of quarters I’m handing out! Thankfully the base meds are not at risk. We go through it quite slowly so even with me letting friends have some I think the CBDCC is safe. I think it’s a special plant too. I’ll be able to tell better once I’m through this reset because Ive been vaping pretty heavily while I introdiced the CBDCC. SO while I feel like it’s heaps better than the other I tried I’m looking forward to getting a feel for it on its own. I do fell that it has a lovely smoothness to it - like it’s effect os smooth, and light - and the partner agrees. It has quite a nice flavour actually as well which is funny considering the smell thing we were discussing earlier!

Thanks for your lovely response - you know (and I’m gonna remind myself of you here!) I only do what comes naturally. It’d be like it is or not at all. I miss my studies and they involved lots of writing. I’m very grateful to have such a wonderful no pressure environment to keep writing in. Except the pressure of living up to ones previous work! A pressure I’m casting off - right now, in this very moment.

Glad you stopped by Sue Have a wonderful day!

 

[Lady G2HM]

@Amy Gardner - I think your pictures say it all but then you write such a masterful conclusion to a journal of ups and downs, twists and turns, if it could happen, it did, or didn't. Your journal for me was a lesson in energy & conservation, and in some cases, energy conservation. hahahaha

Your expression of lessons learned through words and pictography has really confirmed the work and art it takes to grow medicine for ourselves. To always adapt to our environment instead of the reverse; is a peaceful but rigorous transition. But once our plants have fully trained us, the rewards have beeen profound, much like your conclusion you've unfolded for us.

And how celebratory is it, that you end with your award-winning photo, filled with hope.
Keep reaching for the stars...even during the day.

 

[InTheShed]

There’s no way I could afford to do medicinally what this will enable me to do if I was needing to buy. Being able to make the topical oil for pain (not to mention the already noticeable effects on my complexion... my! ), and to have a many months supply of CBD for making dosing oil (I have a few friends interested as well). If I had to rely on purchasing all that, my medicinal possibilities would be way way limited. This absolutely the way that all the citizens of all nation states need to be enabled to manage their own cannabis for medicine - or be connected directly to a personal grower to do this for them. I can’t express how relaxed I am right now.

After seeing how much bud it took to make the topical pain oil (and after seeing the faces of friends as they watched me pull the decarb out of the oven ) I can't imagine how anyone who doesn't grow and isn't wealthy can afford this medicine. Over 50 grams of cannabis went into the MB2e, hundreds of dollars of dispensary-priced weed. How do we supply that huge majority of those who can't grow their own but would benefit from all it can do? At some point, factory-scale farming becomes the only way to create commodity pricing. Best product? No. But something is better than unavailable. We can't custom grow for the size of the population in need. Bespoke is for those who can tailor their own or have the money to buy it. The rest need access too.

I’m going to rewire it to a switchable power supply and, hopefully, use the voltage switching to control the fanspeed a bit. ANd if that little electronics experiment doesn’t work, then I’ll buy one with a power pack already attached

I was thinking of using a spare computer power supply if I need to get ventilation in the dark box (aka Rectangular Cuboid of Darkness ).

 

[SweetSue]

After seeing how much bud it took to make the topical pain oil (and after seeing the faces of friends as they watched me pull the decarb out of the oven ) I can't imagine how anyone who doesn't grow and isn't wealthy can afford this medicine. Over 50 grams of cannabis went into the MB2e, hundreds of dollars of dispensary-priced weed. How do we supply that huge majority of those who can't grow their own but would benefit from all it can do? At some point, factory-scale farming becomes the only way to create commodity pricing. Best product? No. But something is better than unavailable. We can't custom grow for the size of the population in need. Bespoke is for those who can tailor their own or have the money to buy it. The rest need access too.


I was thinking of using a spare computer power supply if I need to get ventilation in the dark box (aka Rectangular Cuboid of Darkness ).

I’ve taken to giving cream away to my friends at the senior center and today, for the first time I had to say “We have to wait until I have more plant material.” *sigh*

It’s made a profound impact on the quality of their lives, and I’ll have to keep a plant for creams in rotation to keep up with demand. I share with them, they share with a loved one, and another request comes back.

This is a population that can’t afford the fees, much less the meds. They shove $5 bills into my pocket to help with costs, but the biggest cost if they were to make their own would be the dispensary prices. There’s not a single one of them with that much money.

I’ll supply as much as I can for love alone, and I think they understand that, but now we’re faced with the reality that there are so many others in pain.

In time. Prohibition can’t last forever.

 

[Amy Gardner]

Omg you live in the wild!

Yes I do - and I have not words to describe how happy I am about that.
It’s a joy to share it with you all in this way.

@Amy Gardner

Keep reaching for the stars...even during the day.

I will G! And you too! Thanks for such a lovely and thoughtful response. I appreciate your insights. I love what you said there about our plants training us... it is like that isn’t it?

 

[Amy Gardner]

It may seem silly to quote these again right here on the same page, but I wanted to underline both these perspectives. An excellent note to wrap up on - and thanks for the heads up. I will guard the topical oil supply!

After seeing how much bud it took to make the topical pain oil (and after seeing the faces of friends as they watched me pull the decarb out of the oven ) I can't imagine how anyone who doesn't grow and isn't wealthy can afford this medicine. Over 50 grams of cannabis went into the MB2e, hundreds of dollars of dispensary-priced weed. How do we supply that huge majority of those who can't grow their own but would benefit from all it can do? At some point, factory-scale farming becomes the only way to create commodity pricing. Best product? No. But something is better than unavailable. We can't custom grow for the size of the population in need. Bespoke is for those who can tailor their own or have the money to buy it. The rest need access too

I’ve taken to giving cream away to my friends at the senior center and today, for the first time I had to say “We have to wait until I have more plant material.” *sigh*

It’s made a profound impact on the quality of their lives, and I’ll have to keep a plant for creams in rotation to keep up with demand. I share with them, they share with a loved one, and another request comes back.

This is a population that can’t afford the fees, much less the meds. They shove $5 bills into my pocket to help with costs, but the biggest cost if they were to make their own would be the dispensary prices. There’s not a single one of them with that much money.

I’ll supply as much as I can for love alone, and I think they understand that, but now we’re faced with the reality that there are so many others in pain.

In time. Prohibition can’t last forever

Happy green gardens to all who come by, and all that don’t as well!

 

[andIhalped]

Nicely done! Thanks for putting together such an interesting & informative journal.

 

[InTheShed]

Nicely done! Thanks for putting together such an interesting & informative journal.

Where have you been? I haven't crossed paths with you for months! Nice to see you again .

 

[Besmirched1]

Nice haul of quality meds Amy. Wow you make me jealous and I live here. Wonderful summery and made me want to come back for more. Sure you aren't a writer?

 

[Conradino23]

Now that was real tour de force

 

[kelticBlue]

Amy, you know I love the pictures of the creatures and critters, well done and Thank You!

I fight humidity as well. your pictures looking for mold look to me to be in the style of Fluorescence Photography or ultraviolet-induced visible florescence photography
It is something I have played with but never really followed through. I dont have a good UV light source.
It produces some far out results.
And I like spacy wacky photography, when I am not being super serious....
Not that you need or want it but if you wanted to know more search: ultraviolet-induced-visible-fluorescence-photography-tutorial

are links ok now/anymore?


Cheers