Caitlin and Erica sample Harmony Rose at Emerald Spirit Botanicals. Flower photography by Kandid Kush, garden photography by Erica Edwards.
Cannabis is considered to be a water-intensive crop, but master grower Sunshine Johnston of Sunboldt Grown in Humboldt County is showing that dry-farming (a technique that utilizes seasonal water abundance) can actually produce a higher concentration of flavors. Although her plants have not been watered all season, they are healthy and thriving in the rich native soil.
Mark Haskell Smith's book Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup inspired CertifiedDank.com.
Caitlin and Erica sample Dream Dog Kush with Josh and Sandra of Moon Gazer Farms. Flower photography by Kandid Kush.
The last time I visited Amsterdam I was a college junior and a nightly toker, but all I knew about cannabis was that I liked it. A decade later, I was back — now a bona fide NorCal pot snob, there to celebrate the New Year... Read more at Cannabis Now.
Swami Chaitanya and Nikki Lastreto have been judging the Emerald Cup since its inception, and they approach this responsibility with utmost seriousness. As experienced cannabis cultivators themselves, they have a deep appreciation for the care and effort that goes into these flowers. Thoughtfully evaluating hundreds of entries in only a few weeks requires an incredible amount of time, dedication, and organization. Nikki and Swami meet with the other judges several times in the lead-up to the Cup, but much of the work takes place at their home in Laytonville.
We joined Nikki and Swami for an episode of “Smokin’ With Swami,” in which we share some Berryessa Blue Dream from Graham’s Brand while they offer valuable insights for anyone interested in submitting flowers to the Emerald Cup.
